At least two lawmakers have called on the House of Representatives to investigate the unpaid claims issue affecting private hospitals. This problem has led some hospitals to stop accepting guarantee letters, a key form of payment assurance for indigent patients.
Representatives Leila de Lima and Robert Nazal each filed House Resolutions demanding answers from the 20th Congress on why hospitals remain unpaid under the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program. The unpaid claims threaten hospitals’ ability to serve poor patients, according to local leaders.
Hospitals Halt Acceptance of Guarantee Letters
Guarantee letters (GLs) act as promissory notes issued by government agencies, promising payment for patient care. However, some members of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) have hesitated or ceased accepting GLs due to delayed reimbursements.
De Lima highlighted the consequences of these delayed payments. “Hospitals’ financial stability and operating costs, including staff salaries, are at risk. Because of unpaid claims, many hospitals are wary of partnering with PhilHealth or accepting GLs from indigent patients,” she said in her resolution.
She stressed that no Filipino should be denied urgent medical care because of their inability to pay or private hospitals’ mistrust of government payments. “The government must implement clear, efficient processes to promptly settle unpaid hospital claims,” De Lima urged.
Perennial Issue Burdening Patients
“This issue has persisted for too long and urgently needs resolution. It adds fear for patients and families already stressed by illness and hospital bills,” De Lima noted. She emphasized the need to protect patients’ rights and ensure the government meets its financial obligations to hospitals.
Meanwhile, Rep. Nazal’s resolution calls on several House committees to investigate the problem. “These unpaid claims are not just numbers—they represent emergency surgeries performed, infants delivered, and lives saved. But now, bureaucratic delays threaten these efforts,” he said.
Nazal added the human cost: “Every unpaid claim means a mother turned away, a child denied treatment, and a family burdened by debt for promised free care.”
Hospitals Face Financial Strain
PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano confirmed that some member hospitals have limited or stopped accepting GLs due to slow payments. For example, hospitals in Batangas have received P577 million under the MAIFIP program but still await around P450 million in reimbursements.
De Grano explained that mounting unpaid claims affect hospitals’ operational costs and sustainability. This has forced some to reconsider their participation in government assistance programs.
Government Funding and Oversight Needed
Recently, Rep. Jose Teves Jr. urged Congress to review this matter, pointing out that the 2025 General Appropriations Act allocated P41.15 billion for MAIFIP. Despite this, payments remain delayed.
This is not a new problem. Earlier this year, a representative from Batangas reported a hospital closure linked to denied payment claims. De Lima also referenced past hearings showing PhilHealth’s backlog of unpaid hospital claims, even with ample funds.
She called on Congress, with its oversight role, to thoroughly investigate government programs and funding for indigent patient care. The goal is to protect hospitals’ rights and ensure timely settlement of outstanding bills.
For more news and updates on unpaid claims to private hospitals, visit Filipinokami.com.
