The Department of Health (DOH) is set to issue a new policy expanding zero balance billing (ZBB) coverage to include pay wards or shared rooms for Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) direct contributors in all DOH hospitals, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Monday.

Herbosa noted that the planned department memorandum circular (DMC) will direct all DOH hospitals to provide zero balance billing for PhilHealth members who regularly pay their contributions, particularly workers from the middle-income sector.

“Ito yung mga nakakaltasan sa kanilang mga sweldo ng premium at sabi nila isasama mo rin ba kami sa basic accommodation (These are the members whose premiums are regularly deducted from their salaries, and they have been asking if they can also be included beyond the basic accommodation),” Herbosa said at the DOH flag raising ceremony in Manila.

“Sana naman makakuha kami ng mas magandang accommodation (They are hoping to get better accommodation).”

Herbosa said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. heard their appeal and directed the DOH to come up with a program that would allow PhilHealth direct contributors to receive improved hospital accommodations without additional charges.

“Nadinig po ng ating Pangulo ang inyong hiling at inatasan ako to think of a program (Our President heard your request and instructed me to think of a program),” he said, adding that while some proposed enhancements to PhilHealth benefits would still require further processing, immediate action can already be taken within DOH hospitals.

DOH hospitals will be instructed to allocate special areas or rooms for PhilHealth direct contributors availing themselves of zero balance billing. These areas are intended to provide better amenities compared to common wards.

“Pwede nang iutos sa lahat ng DOH hospitals through a department memorandum circular na maglagay at mag-allocate ng special area for direct contributors, or ‘yung ating mga working class, or middle class na gusting magpa-accommodate sa Zero Balance Billing sa ating mga ospital (It can now be directed to all DOH hospitals, through a department memorandum circular, to set up and allocate a special area for direct contributors, or our working class, or middle class, who wish to avail themselves of Zero Balance Billing in our hospitals),” Herbosa said.

“So, ise-separate namin kayo para kayo ay matingnan na mabigyan ng magandang accommodation, air condition, medyo may separation para hindi kayo nasa common area pero talagang kayo po ay bibigyan natin ng addition benefits dahil kayo po ay nagko-contribute sa pondo ng PhilHealth (So, we will separate you so that you can be properly attended to and given better accommodation, air-conditioned, with some separation so you are not in a common area. You will truly be given additional benefits because you are contributing to the PhilHealth fund),” he added.

The initiative is in line with the President’s directive to make health care benefits more tangible for working- and middle-class Filipinos, particularly those who consistently contribute to the national health insurance program. (PNA)