To minimize inaccurate claims and improve compliance, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has spearheaded a series of fora for employers in the region.
The first forum in Kidapawan last Friday not only addressed the usual concerns on PhilHealth premium contributions but also discussed ways to improve compliance with corporate protocols and guidelines, appreciate the negative impact of underpayments or selective reporting versus regaining unwarranted claims, and also respond to questions related to Employers or PhilHealth Employers Engagement Representatives (PEERs) who act like a bridge between employers’ queries and issues with PhilHealth
Similar fora are targeted to be held in the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, and Koronadal, and Isulan, the capital town of Sultan Kudarat province.
Most of the questions in the forum tackled unwarranted claims or those claims which were correctly filed by PhilHealth members but with no valid contribution prior to the date of confinement of member.
PhilHealth-12 has so far processed 114 settlement claims totalling P1.1 million out of the 1,933 issued billing notices.
“You must understand that your primary obligation is to remit the premium contribution of your employees on time, submit a report to get rid of interest charges and inconvenience in time of benefit availment,” Lorelie Bonilla, collection section head of PhilHealth-12, said.
Also taken up were collection policies and guidelines, and even penal provisions and strict rules on non-compliance.
“We do not want to litigate you inasmuch as we wanted you to be amenable with our corporate policies,” emphasized Sharon Ysmael, PhilHealth-12 legal service office representative. (Jojo Mangahis)