PhilHealth urges hospitals to support ‘no balance billing’ policy

ZERO BILLING. Eduardo Dularte (middle), chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth in Ilocos Norte, explains the no balance billing policy with accredited private hospitals in an interview on Tuesday (April 8, 2025). Private institution Karmelli Clinic and Hospital in Laoag City has started implementing NBB. (PNA photo by Leilanie Adriano)

By Leilanie Adriano, Philippine News Agency

LAOAG CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has enjoined private hospitals here to support its no balance billing (NBB) policy to ensure equitable access to healthcare services for all.

Eduardo Dularte, chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth in Ilocos Norte, said in a media interview on Tuesday that all sectors with ordinary or serious illnesses shall be accommodated under the NBB policy.

Of the 13 private hospitals in Ilocos Norte, Duarte reported that eight have submitted their intent to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA)for the implementation of the NBB policy.

“We hope that more private hospitals will extend their support to the No Balance Billing policy by signing the MOA with PhilHealth,” he said.

Through the NBB, member-patients are given quality access to a range of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare services without worrying about out-of-pocket expenses.

The services include basic hospital room, food, medicines, medical supplies, laboratory facilities and doctor’s professional fees that are covered under PhilHealth benefits for eligible patients.

Among the pioneering private hospitals that expressed support to the program is the Karmelli Clinic and Hospital here and a branch clinic in Pinili town.

Dr. Norman Panfilo Rabago, hospital chief executive officer, said they took up the challenge to implement the NBB policy in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to promote universal healthcare.

“We accepted the challenge, not to compete with government hospitals, but we are just here to augment the need of patients who can not be accommodated in government hospitals and give them a little comfort from queuing up in public hospitals,” Rabago said.

According to Rabago, the hospital has doctors and three nurses who volunteered to take care of a maximum of 12 patients to be assigned at the charity ward.

“We believe in equity and we are ready to help,” Dr. Johanna Violeta Perez-Villalon, a surgeon at the Karmelli Clinic and Hospital, said.