Stricter penalties will be imposed on hospitals that refuse patients and demand deposits or advanced payments before administering initial medical treatment.
That was the gist of the anti-hospital deposit signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday.
Republic Act No. 10932, which amends Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 and Republic Act. No. 8344, provides higher penalties for any medical practitioner, hospital employee or medical clinic who will be found guilty of asking deposits or advance payments before treating patients in emergency cases.
Despite the “no balance billing” policy of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. for the benefit of indigents, there still have been reports of private hospitals rejecting patients on account of the patients’ inability to pay for the hospital deposit.
Those who would be found guilty will be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than two years and four months, or a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000.00 or both.
The Health department may likewise revoke the health facility’s license to operate if found guilty of violating the act in three repeated instances, the new law stressed.
A Health Facilities Oversight Board will be likewise created “to investigate the claim of the patient … and impose administrative sanctions,” the RA read.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will be the one tasked to reimburse the cost of basic emergency care and transportation services, while the and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall provide medical assistance for the basic emergency care needs of the poor and marginalized.
