CHAMP may cover expenses in non-accredited hospitals

CEBU, Philippines — Indigent residents may avail of the Cebu City government’s hospitalization program in non-accredited hospitals through reimbursement.

Andreu Niño Lim, point person of the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP), made the clarification yesterday.

There are, however, some requirements for residents to comply with before reimbursement for medical bills will be entertained.

The requirements include a letter request, reimbursement form from CHAMP signed by the patient, original or certified true copy of the patient’s medical abstract, updated voter’s certification of the patient, certificate of indigence from the barangay where the patient resides, original official receipts during the patient’s time at the hospital, and the final billing from the hospital.

The city’s news and information team also reported that not the whole amount of the hospital bills paid can be reimbursed. Doctor’s professional fees, company payments, premiums from Philhealth and from private health insurances, persons with disabilities (PWD), and senior citizens’ discounts are excluded in the reimbursement.

“Ang atong reimbursement kay dili jud ang whole payment nga bayad sa atong mga patient kay kani mag-base ra jud mi sa hospital bill excess,” said Lim.

Lim said the applicants for reimbursement should include the confinement dates written on the hospital bill. The deductions from discounts, insurances, doctor’s professional fees and others should also be included in the bill.

A family member can process the requirements and file the claim on behalf of the patient who is incapable of doing it provided that the representative is duly authorized by the patient.

“Mag need lang og authorization letter nga mo-process siya nga ipa-state lang sa patient nga iyang e-authorize ang iyang immediate family (member), then mo pirma ang patient,” Lim added.

Lim said that aside from the requirements, the authorized representative must provide a photocopy of the patient’s valid ID with three of his or her signatures.  — (FREEMAN)