Hospitals already practicing price transparency听鈥斕齈HAPi听
THE HEALTHCARE industry is already practicing transparency听on service rates听following听a Health department听order听in January,听the听Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi)听said in reaction to the filing of a听bill听in the Senate听to听prevent听鈥渟urprise听billing.鈥澨听
The Department of Health issued听Administrative Order No. 2021-0008 last Jan. 18, which听set guidelines on providing an accessible price list of all services and goods being offered in听public and private听hospitals and other health facilities.听听
On July 27, Senator Manuel M. Lapid filed Senate Bill 2334,听or the听Medical Bill Transparency Act, which听aims to ensure听that patients are fully informed about the procedures, price, and quality of the healthcare service in advance听to听prevent听a听“surprise billing鈥澨齜efore being discharged.听听听
鈥淭he supposed surprise billing should not happen because patients are made aware during admission of the different categories that they go into when admitted into the hospitals, and they sign an informed consent explaining the different charges that they may encounter,鈥澨齈HAPi听President听Jose Rene de Grano听said听in an email.听听听
He said听hospitals are already in the process of improving price transparency听with the use of听鈥減amphlets, a website, a tablet, etc.,鈥澨齛nd听鈥渘ot publicly posting it just like when you enter a restaurant, and the menu is plastered on the walls.鈥澨听
The proposed law will听require hospitals to publicly post standard charge information.听听听
鈥淭he consensus of the healthcare workers, especially the doctors, is if ever this is done, the prices should be a range of cost, not a fixed cost, because not all the procedures, operations, services are exactly the same or similar. Also, the cost should depend on the accommodation chosen by the patient,鈥澨齭aid Mr. De Grano.听听
Mr. De Grano also听said听private hospitals听鈥渟hould be given a fair way of making a sort of income since they are considered still as a business enterprise, unlike government facilities who should offer the services with the least cost if not free.鈥澨听
Should there be hearings on the bill, he said, it must involve all听stakeholders.听鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听
