View source for Legarda: LGUs may use budgets for employees healthcare

*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2018/01/19/legarda-lgus-may-use-budgets-employees-healthcare-584763
*Sunday, January 21, 2018
:By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY --- Senator Loren Legarda said that government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), and local government units (LGUs) may use their respective funds for the health benefits of their employees.

The Senator said that offices that have fiscal autonomy, such as the Judiciary Department, Legislative Department, the Commission on Audit (COA), Commission on Elections (Comelec), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Office of the Ombudsman, are authorized to use their respective budgets to pay for supplemental health benefits for their employees through PhilHealth.

“GOCCs, GFIs, and LGUs are likewise authorized to avail of the same coverage,” Legarda said.

Legarda noted that, in the event that the actual cost of availment exceeds the amount of appropriated, the same shall be augmented from the savings of the national government or shall be recognized as account payable to PhilHealth.

She also said that all Filipinos are already covered by PhilHealth, which means those not yet registered in PhilHealth will be automatically made a member upon availing of any healthcare service in a public hospital.

“The health of our people deserves to be on top of the priorities of government. What is crucial now is to make these healthcare benefits known by the people, especially the poorest households who are the intended beneficiaries. The more we invest on the health of our people, the greater we nurture the future of our country,” Legarda said.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that the amount of P3.5-billion was allocated under the budget of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to cover the cost of supplemental health benefits, which shall cover services ranging from preventive and curative, inpatient and outpatient, and other medical expenses in excess of contributions-based case rates.

“The Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should expedite the drafting and finalization of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of PhilHealth Plus so that the budget can be utilized the soonest time possible,” she added.