Groups assail Marcos over scrapped PhilHealth subsidy

MANILA, Philippines — Labor and militant groups have denounced President Marcos’ failure to restore the scrapped subsidy for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the enacted P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025.

Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) secretary general Judy Miranda said Marcos was insincere in his veto of several line items since the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) remains embedded in the national budget.

Miranda accused Marcos of being deceitful in claiming that PhilHealth benefits would not be affected by lack of subsidy.

Different labor groups previously filed before the Supreme Court a petition opposing the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury.

Partido ng Lakas ng Masa president Leody de Guzman also criticized Marcos for signing what he called a questionable national budget.

De Guzman the P194-billion fund taken out from the national budget only comprised three percent of the entire budget for 2025.

“The fun continues for the elitist traditional politicians and dynasties in the 2025 budget,” De Guzman said in Filipino.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan said the enacted national budget prioritizes confidential and intelligence funds over critical social services such as education and healthcare.

“Marcos did not restore budget cuts. He merely vetoed certain items to make the budget appear as conforming to the Constitution,” Bayan president Renato Reyes said in a statement.

“Cuts in education and health services remain. None of the cuts were restored,” he said.

Reyes said that the lion’s share of these funds is under the Office of the President, prompting concerns about potential misuse.

He also questioned the government’s recent budget review, calling it a “show” that failed to restore funding for sectors vital to the welfare of the Filipino people. “This budget is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” Reyes said.

“We call on the public to resist this anti-people budget and push for reforms that prioritize the welfare of the many, not the interests of the few,” he added.

Bayan and other militant groups, including members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress, gathered at the Mendiola Bridge on Rizal Day yesterday to protest the enactment of the budget.

Joining the protesters were Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Rep. France Castro and Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas.

Meanwhile, PhilHealth announced yesterday the approval of a 50 percent adjustment in the case rates of selected medical benefits for its members.

Through Circular No. 2024-0037, PhilHealth said the latest round of adjustment in its case rates is in line with its objective to lower its members’ out-of-pocket expenses.

“This PhilHealth circular presents the formal guidelines for another round of adjustment to select case rates,” PhilHealth said.

“It effectively reinforces case-based payments and adjusts case rates to align with health inflation, demonstrating a strong commitment to improving healthcare affordability and access,” it added.

PhilHealth said the circular applies to all accredited health facilities, PhilHealth regional offices and all others concerned in implementing adjustment of 50 percent in select case rates.

Among the medical cases covered by the adjustments are urinary tract infection from previous rate of P9,750 to P14,625; acute gastroenteritis from P7,800 to P11,700.

Meanwhile, rate for cholecystectomy will now be P90,675 from the previous P60,450 while increased rate for craniotomy is from P69,420 to P104,130.

The complete list of adjusted medical case rates will be uploaded to the PhilHealth website to ensure public access.

On the other hand, excluded from the adjustments are acute stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic); pneumonia (high risk); neonatal sepsis; bronchial asthma in acute exacerbation; severe dengue; ischemic heart disease-acute myocardial infarction (IHD-AMI) and COVID-19 as they are being rationalized separately.

Also excluded are Z Benefits packages that are being re-costed and are scheduled for adjustment; newly approved benefits packages starting 2023; cases that are identified to have a high risk for moral hazard and/or adverse incentives and benefits packages that are paid through other provider payment mechanisms.

According to PhilHealth, the adjustments are deemed necessary as the National Health Insurance Program covers less than 40 percent of total hospital service.

PhilHealth added, “The circular aims to increase support value, decrease out-of-pocket payment, increase financial risk protection and ensure the effective delivery of high-quality services.”

PhilHealth said the new case rate adjustments shall take effect on hospital admissions starting Jan. 1, 2025. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Ghio Ong, Rhodina Villanueva