Zero-balance billing

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, Marcos stressed that basic accommodation at DOH hospitals should already be funded by the government. In other words, patients no longer have to pay out of pocket.

- 

"Itinuloy na po natin ang zero-balance billing. Libre po. Ibig sabihin ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH na hospital, wala nang babayaran ang pasyente, dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo," he said. (We will continue the zero-balance billing. This is free. This means that the basic accommodation at DOH hospitals, patients don't have to pay for anything, because the bill has already been paid.)

Marcos also acknowledged that many public hospitals are burdened by the need to procure medical supplies and cover medical assistance for patients - expenses they can barely afford.

He said the administration plans to ease this burden by having the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) fund programs like the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP).