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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )Second Regular Session )

SENATEPSR No. 701

'12 FEB -7 ;\ 'J n

HF,

Introduced by Senator Aquilino "Koko" L. Pimentel III

RESOLUTIONDIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEES ONGOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS AND PUBLICENTERPRISES, HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHY AND ALLOTHER PROPER COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT ANINQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE HUGEINCREASE IN PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL

MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCECORPORATION (PHILHEALTH)

WHEREAS, the Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 ,!states, "the State shall protect and promote the right tohealth of the people and instill health consciousnessamong them;"

WHEREAS, Congress passed RA 7875 - the NationalHealth Insurance Act of 1995 which created the PhilippineHealth Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and institutedthe National Health Insurance program;

WHEREAS, under RA 7875, PhilHealth is mandated toprovide all citizens of the Philippines with the mechanismto gain financial access to health services, provide meansto help the people pay for health care services, andprioritize and accelerate the provision of health services toall Filipinos, especially that segment of the population whocannot afford such services;

WHEREAS, PhilHealth must submit to the President ofthe Philippines and to both Houses of Congress its Annual

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Report which shall contain the status of the NationalHealth Insurance Fund, its total disbursements, reserves,average costing to beneficiaries, any request for additionalappropriation, and other data pertinent to theimplementation of the Program and publish a synopsis ofsuch report in two (2) newspapers of general circulation;

WHEREAS, PhilHealth members are paying or used topay Nine Hundred pesos (P900.00) per year as their annualpremium contribution;

WHEREAS, on December 15, 2011, the Board of'Directors of PhilHealth issued Circular 22 series of 2011regarding new premium contributions to the NationalHealth Insurance Program (NHIP) in support for theattainment of Universal Health Care and MilleniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs);

WHEREAS, according to PhilHealth Circular 22 seriesof 2011, PhilHealth members under the SponsoredProgram, Partial Subsidy Scheme, and Individually Payingand Overseas Workers Programs will be paying TwoThousand Four Hundred Pesos (P2,400.00) as their annualpremium contribution starting July 01, 2012, a 167%increase from the current annual membership premium ofNine Hundred pesos (P900.00);

WHEREAS, there will be a 6-month transition phaseauthorized by PhilHealth wherein Overseas FilipinoWorkers and self-employed Filipinos would be charged OneThousand Two Hundred pesos (Pl,200.00) startingJanuary 2012 for their annual premiums as a discountedrate prior to the higher premium slated in July 2012;

WHEREAS, various sectors of the country oppose thehuge increase in their premium contributions and criticizethe lack of consultation and dialogue with the members ofPhilHealth especially the Overseas Filipino Workers;

WHEREAS, Overseas Filipino Workers are now, !mandatory members of the state-run national healthprogram when the Overseas Workers Welfare

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Administration transferred to PhilHealth OFWcontributions amounting to Five Hundred Thirty millionpesos (P530,000,000.00) in March and April of 2005;

WHEREAS, there is a need to review the benefitsoffered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation(PhilHealth) to all its members and enrollees;

WHEREAS, it is important to look into the status ofthe National Health Insurance Fund, its totaldisbursements, reserves, average costing to beneficiaries,and the reason for the huge increase in PhilHealthpremium contributions;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBYRESOLVED by the Senate of the Philippines, to directthe Senate Committees on Government Corporationsand Public Enterprises, Health and Demography and allother proper committees to conduct an inquiry, in aidof legislation, on the huge increase in premiumcontributions of all members of the Philippine HealthInsurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Adopted,

16- r v \ ~ ~ A v -A Q u l ~ ? ' "K6KO" L. PIMENTEL III

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