MANILA, Philippines – Inaprubahan ng Senado sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukalang baguhin ang ilang probisyon ng Universal Health Care (UHC) Act na makatutugon sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Senador Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito na maghahawan ang pagsasabatas ng Senate Bill No. 2620 sa inatasang pagbaba ng premium contribution sa miyembro ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
“The passing on third reading of SB No. 2620 is a very good example of how united legislators are in crafting laws that will be truly felt and appreciated by our people, most especially those who heavily depend on our National Health Insurance Program (NHIP),” ayon kay Ejercito, sponsor ng panukala.
Kabilang sa probisyon ng SB No. 2620 ang Pagbabawal na ilipat ang anumang halaga ng pondo o kinita ng PhilHealth o provident fund, at special health fund sa General Fund ng National Government, o alinmang sa ahensiya o kagawaran at Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).
Sinabi ni Ejercito na ibinalik ang 5 porsiyentong rate para sa 2024 upang mapanatili ang umiiral na premium rate para sa taong kasalukuyan na makikita sa orihinal na probisyon ng Section 10 ng Republic Act No. 11223.
“Since we are almost in the last quarter of this year and we are still deliberating the proposed measure, it will be difficult to refund the payment collected from the PhilHealth members for the period of January up to the time that this bill will be enacted into law,” ayon kay Ejercito.
“Thus, the reduced premium rates as amended by the bill will become effective starting from year 2025 onwards,” giit niya.
Tiniyak din ng panukala na ibabase ang premium contributions ng migrant workers sa income floor (10,000); at papasanin ng gobyerno ang 50 percent (50%) ng premium contribution ng migrant workers.
Maaaring ipagpatuloy naman ang local manning agencies ang pagpasan sa 50% ng premium contribution.
Ayon kay Ejecito, hindi sisingilin ang di nabayarang premium contributions ng sinumang migrant workers na nagigipit hanggang makauwi o makabalik sila sa ating bansa.
Ipinagbabawal din ng batas na gamitin ang isyu sa hindi pagbabayad ng premium ng PhilHealth contribution sa hindi pagbibigay ng overseas employment certificate (OEC) ng isang migrant worker.
“The bill also includes a new paragraph in Section 10 of RA 11223 granting the President the authority to suspend increases in Philhealth premiums in event of a state of national emergency, public health emergency or state of calamity,” ayon kay Ejecito.
Ikinatuwa naman ni Senador Risa Hontiveros ang pagsasabatas nito sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa sa Senado. Katuwang na awtor si Hontiveros ni Ejercito sa naturang panukala.
“I believe that when we enacted the UHC Act five years ago, in 2019, we committed ourselves institutionally to progressively realize the aims of UHC, and by extension to provide maximum available resources to uphold and fulfill the rights and interests of every Filipino to quality, accessible and affordable health care,” aniya. Ernie Reyes
