Zero-balance billing may expand to LGU hospitals

The Department of Health has announced its plan to cover local government unit (LGU) hospitals under its zero-balance billing program.

- RHODINA VILLANUEVA

In a radio program yesterday, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said “the Senate has inserted P1 billion to be used as zero-balance billing support to local government hospitals.”

“So it will not just be DOH (hospitals)... (The amount) if released, we can select a few (LGU hospitals) that are deserving. We can give them funds so they can also implement the zero-balance billing policy,” Herbosa said.

The DOH said 1,078,164 patients have benefited from the zero-balance billing program in just four months following the President's State of the Nation Address last July.

Under the program, no payment is required from the patient for hospital services including medical procedure, doctor's professional fee and medications.

PhilHealth funding