President Aquino Signed the National Health Care Insurance Act 2013

June 21, 2013, Friday-Philippines, RA 10606, Health care insurance coverage has been signed by President Noynoy Aquino last June 19, Said the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, during the regular press briefing in Malacañang ealier today, friday. This bill will amend the Health Insurance Act of 1995 also known as RA 7875 an act to provide all Filipinos, especially the indigents and persons with disabilities can get health care insurance coverage.  

The law mandates the government to provide wide-ranged health care service to all Pinoys through a socialized health insurance program that will prioritize the health care needs of the unfortunate Filipino people, especially the sick, the elderly and PWDs or persons with disabilities, women and children and provide free health care services to the indigents.

The new law provides that all citizens of the Philippines shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). The program shall ensure sustainability of coverage and continuous enhancement of the quality of services to people.

The Program shall be compulsory in all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide, notwithstanding the existence of Local government unit-based health insurance programs.

Under the law, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), Department of Health (DOH), local government units (LGUs), and other agencies including non-governmental organizations and other national government agencies shall ensure that members in localities shall have access to quality and cost-effective health care services. 

Any accredited health care provider who commits a violation, abuse, unethical practice or fraudulent act which tends to undermine or defeat the objectives of this program shall be punished with a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000 or suspension of accreditation from three months to the whole term of accreditation, or both, at the discretion of the PHIC. 

Any member who commits any violation of this Act independently or in connivance with the health care provider for purposes of wrongfully claiming NHIP benefits or entitlement shall be punished with a fine of not less than P5,000 or suspension from availment of NHIP benefits for not less than three months but not more than six months, or both, at the discretion of the PHIC.

Any employer who fails or refuses to register employees, regardless of their employment status, or to deduct contributions from the employee's compensation or remit the same to the PHIC shall be punished with a fine of not less than P5,000 multiplied by the total number of employees of the firm.

Any employer or any officer authorized to collect contributions under this Act who, after collecting or deducting the monthly contributions from his employee's compensation, fails to remit the said contributions to the PHIC within 30 days from the date they become due shall be presumed to have misappropriated such contributions.

The law creates a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to conduct a regular review of the NHIP which shall entail a systematic evaluation of the program's performance, impact or accomplishments with respect to its objectives or goals. The committee will be composed of five members from the Senate and five members from the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively. 

The National Economic and Development Authority, in coordination with the National Statistics Office and the National Institutes of Health of the University of the Philippines shall undertake studies to validate the accomplishments of the Program.

The PHIC, in coordination with the DOH, shall craft implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of this Act.

The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least 2 newspapers of general circulation. PND (js)

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