Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Cites Lapses of PhilHealth over Zero Subsidy
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President spoke on the zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth in 2025 and the mandate to use their reserve funds.
The lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives have already met regarding the 2025 national budget. Aside from the budget for the Office of the Vice President, the zero subsidy for the PhilHealth also hooked attention.
It was Senator Grace Poe who announced that PhilHealth will be getting zero confidential funds in 2025. Meanwhile, according to the lawmaker, the state-run health insurance entity will still be getting their budget for their operations.
According to the Senator, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is ordered to use their reserve funds. If she is not mistaken, the Senator stressed that PhilHealth still has P600 billion reserve funds kept in a bank account.
Sen. Grace Poe said that the government is in the losing end with regards to the reserve funds of PhilHealth. According to the lawmaker, it is not earning big.
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero spoke on the zero subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025. Based on a report on GMA News, the Senate President said that the decision is due to the lapses of the state-run health insurance entity.
According to Escudero, he hopes that this will serve as a wake up call to PhilHealth. He stressed that the lawmakers won’t reward their lapses with another budget that will not be used.
“Dahil sa kapalpakan ‘yun. Ito sana magsilbing wake up call sa kanila. Hindi man palo sa mukha na gawin nila ang trabaho nila. Hindi para sa amin na i-reward ang kapalpakan nila sa pagbibigay na naman ng perang itetengga,” the Senate President said.
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero stressed that PhilHealth is under a “No Balance Billing” mandate under the Universal Healthcare Law. It is in the pursuit to lower the out-of-the-pocket expenses of the patients. However, the Senator said that it was allegedly not implemented.
“Ang tawag mo sa pagkakaroon ng reserve na P600 billion, hindi pagganap na sa kanilang trabaho na bigyan ng benepisyong pangkalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” Escudero said.