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NewsTranscript
00:00PhilHealth is studying how to raise the ceiling price that private hospitals can afford.
00:05It's a big help if the cost of medical treatment in the Philippines increases this year, based on a study.
00:14Here's the first news, Macky Polivo.
00:16The hospital bill reached more than Php 400,000 for the hospitalization of Mr. Nelionora
00:25who suffered from complications of diabetes and stroke after the operation last November.
00:32When the personal insurance, PhilHealth and PWD discount was reduced,
00:36Php 65,000 was still left.
00:39Mr. Nelionora has already borrowed it and is still paying every salary.
00:43If you have a disease, why are you still having a hard time with the bill?
00:50If you don't have a disease and you have a job, there's a tax.
00:55PhilHealth is just a one-time deduction and it's very small.
00:59I was surprised with the bill. The discount of PWD is even bigger.
01:04Magno Galgana, who is 80 years old, is not being paid if he is confined due to COPD.
01:10But as an outpatient, he is praying that someone can help him.
01:14Even if there is a discount, it is still heavy to pay for check-up, laboratory and medicine.
01:19It's really hard, especially for a senior like me.
01:25It looks like the medical bills will be heavier this year.
01:28In the Global Medical Trends Survey conducted by Willis Towers Watson,
01:32a multinational insurance company,
01:34this year, it is possible that the medical costs in the country will increase by more than 18%.
01:39Dr. Jose Degrano of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines said that
01:44love for medicine cannot be avoided.
01:46We have no choice. That's how it is.
01:49Everything is increasing. Medical supplies, even the salaries of our nurses.
01:56So, it is expected that hospitalization will also increase.
02:03For PhilHealth, the increase of 50% in the case rate should help
02:08in the thousands of PhilHealth packages.
02:10One problem, according to PhilHealth,
02:12is that the increase in hospital fees is in line with the increase in PhilHealth benefits.
02:17There is no law that will regulate hospital fees.
02:22We also ask our hospitals and doctors not to increase their fees or prices.
02:32Because there is no regulation, PhilHealth is studying the ceiling price
02:37that private hospitals can charge.
02:39We need to negotiate with the facilities and with the doctors.
02:42And also, with that, we need to get their actual cost
02:46so that we know how high or how low our fixed co-payments will be set.
02:52But the Department of Health said that PhilHealth should show mercy.
02:56As of now, more than 40% of medical expenses are paid by the patient.
03:01Only 10% will be deducted from the hospital bill due to PhilHealth.
03:05More patients receive medical assistance from the DOH.
03:10The work of PhilHealth is to pay the benefits of my members.
03:14And for that to happen, the payment should be fast.
03:17Second, the estimate of the amount to be paid is correct.
03:22I hope that one day, something will change, said Leonora.
03:25Because of the high cost of the hospital bill,
03:27she can no longer buy the medicines that her husband needs.
03:31To be honest, I have been using his medicine three times a day.
03:36I use it twice a day.
03:38He has it twice a day, once a day.
03:41I use it just to feed him.
03:44His prescription is very expensive.
03:47This is the first news. Macky Pulido for GMA Integrated News.
04:01For more information visit www.fema.gov