CHAMP eyeing more health service providers as partners

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Hospitalization and Medicines Program (CHAMP) is looking into tying up with hospitals, clinics and laboratories in the city.

CHAMP head Jojo Lingaolingao said they will be working on the accreditation with more clinics and diagnostic laboratories for the convenience of the Cebuanos who need financial assistance with medical needs.

Lingangao disclosed that there are some more hospitals that are willing to tie-up with this city’s health assistance program.

“Naay mga ospital nga willing mo tie-up, modawat pa’g CHAMP,” Lingaolingao said via the city's Public Information Office.

With assistance from CHAMP, a qualified resident/beneficiary gets to have a much lesser to no cost in their hospital bills.

At present, there are at least four hospitals that accept the Letter of Authority from CHAMP "outright" including Adventist Hospital-Cebu, Visayas Community Medical Center, Perpetual Succour Hospital, and Cebu Doctors Hospital.

“Outright meaning paghatag nato sa LOA i-deduct deretso sa bill sa atoang pasyente,” explained Lingaolingao.

The likes of Adventist Hospital-Cebu, Visayas Community Medical Center, Perpetual Succour Hospital, and Cebu Doctors Hospital, on the other hand, also have tie-ups with CHAMP but through a refund on a basis with assistance from the government.

“Refund basis, mosud ‘ta’g LOA pero magsige pa’g bayad og nag-promissory note atong pasyente. Then unya nato nila i-refund (ang ilang gibayran) kung mobayad na ang City sumala sa katong LOA nga atong gihatag kung pilay atong i-grant nga refund,” added Lingaolingao.

Lingaolingao said that she is assuring all hospitals tied-up with the city government to speed up the process of issuing vouchers.

“With all of these hospitals nga nakig-meeting ko, I assure them nga under the administration of Mayor Mike Rama ato ning paspason ang voucher kay dili man pud gusto si mayor nga dili mobayad dayon og utang,” sad Lingaolingao.

With this, he said they are also asking hospitals to update them with the patients’ billing every week.

“Every Friday afternoon maghatod sila og bill sa CHAMP whether magamay o madako ang bayranan,” Lingaolingao said.

For 2023, CHAMP has asked the city government to set aside P300 million which includes P26 million for anti-rabies and anti-tetanus vaccines.

Many residents in the city also asked for assistance from CHAMP for anti-rabies and anti-tetanus due to a shortage of supply of vaccines from the City Health Department.

“Actually, included man gud siya kay di ba CHAMP, City Hospitalization and Medicines Program, ingon ana akong gi-present pagdepensa nako sa Council (sa 2023 nga budget) in which uyon pud sila (mga konsehal),” ended Lingaolingao. — GMR (FREEMAN)