TGP Representative Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. last week called on medical doctors to fully serve their clients as he vowed to do all he can for Congress to pass his proposed bill seeking full coverage of doctors’ professional fees under the Medical Assistance to Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program.
In filing House Bill No. 11415 last Feb. 4, 2025, Cong. Teves explained that despite the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and the “No Balance Billing” policy of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), many indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos still carry the burden of paying excessive hospital bills, including professional or doctor’s fees.
While the Department of Health (DOH) has implemented the MAIFIP Program, it only covers professional fees to the extent that it does not exceed 50 percent of the approved amount of medical assistance for the patient.
“Many of our healthcare professionals or doctors refuse to accept guarantee letters of the MAIFIP as form of payment for professional fee,” he noted as he sought the inclusion of the fee, without any limitations on the approved amount in the MAIFIP program.
The bill, now pending before the House Committee on Health, will mandate all medical professionals or doctors in private and public hospitals, clinics, health care institutions accredited by the DOH to accept guarantee letters issued by DOH under the MAIFIP Program as a form of payment or compensation.
It likewise directs all government agencies and institutions providing financial assistance to such patients for hospital expenses to include the coverage of the professional fees to be incorporated in the hospital bill or separately.
HB 11415 provides a penal clause for refusing to accept guarantee letters as payment for professional fees: a P100,000 fine for the first offense, P200,000 fine for the 2nd offense, and cancellation of professional license or License to Operate for the third offense.
He promised to inquire from DOH once Congress resumes sessions after the elections to find out the reason behind the delay in the collection of reimbursements of government and private hospitals from the MAIFIP program.
Also pending before the committee is HB No. 8565 granting exemption of generic and branded medicines from the Value-Added Tax (VAT).
Cong. Teves stated that if the bill is approved, it will remove the 12 percent VAT charged by the government on medicines, resulting in lower medicine prices.
While at least 86 drug molecules or 133 drug formulas have been placed under a price control since the last administration, he said that it cannot make medicines affordable for an ordinary Filipino, given the rising cost of living and the inflation rate.
As the end-user pf the medicines, the Filipino people has the burden of paying the VAT every time they purchase medicines as it is a pass-on or indirect tax, Teves pointed out, adding that the burden of paying such tax should be on the manufacturer, distributor or seller of such medicine.
The TGP representative underscored that the partylist has managed to help secure approval of the Ligtas Pinoy Act that mandates the establishment of multi-purpose evacuation centers in each barangay, the Study Now, Pay Later Act, and the Seafarers Act, which the president signed last year.
Still pending before the Senate is Teves’ proposed bill on Free WiFi for all barangays and the establishment of Botika sa Barangay in villages.