AS the bicameral conference committee continues its deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget, Senator Risa Hontiveros has proposed to the Senate contingent a special provision allocating around P15 billion for zero balance billing (ZBB) in hospitals run by local government units (LGU) from the P51 billion fund approved by the panel for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.
“Kung tanggapin ang special provision na ito sa budget, magagarantiya natin na P15 billion o 30% ng P51 billion para sa MAIFIP ang mapupunta sa mga LGU hospitals para sa libreng pagpapagamot sa ilalim ng ZBB,” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said Tuesday.
She added, “Umaasa ako na magiging bukas ang Senate bicam contingent para tanggapin ang proposal ko, dahil na rin tumugon na kami sa hiling ng DOH na i-expand ang coverage ng ZBB sa mga LGU hospitals sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng P1 billion para dito sa aming version ng 2026 budget.”
Currently, the ZBB program only covers the full cost of services provided to patients under basic or ward accommodation in hospitals run by the Department of Health. The special provision proposed by Hontiveros seeks to expand this program to also cover LGU hospitals.
“Sa pamamagitan ng special provision ko, mas maraming Pilipino ang pwedeng makakuha ng libreng pagpapa-ospital sa ilalim ng ZBB dahil hindi na lang ang mga pasyente ng 86 DOH hospitals ang pwedeng mag-benepisyo dito, kundi pati na rin ang mga kababayan nating binibigyan ng serbisyo ng daan-daang LGU hospitals,” Hontiveros said.
The senator added that her proposed special provision is a step towards the realization of greater reforms in the government’s medical assistance program, which she is championing through Senate Bill No. 1593 or the Universal Health Care Medical Assistance Program that she recently sponsored in plenary.
“Layunin ng panukalang batas na ito na idiretso na ang medical assistance sa mga ospital para sila na mismo ang mamigay nito sa kanilang mga pasyente,” Hontiveros said. “Kung sino man ang may kailangan ng alalay, bibigyan agad-agad. Walang kapalit. Walang kondisyon. Walang palakasan.”
Under the bill, patients may apply for medical assistance through registered social workers who must process their application within 72 hours instead of applying for guarantee letters.
Hontiveros assured that she will continue to champion health reforms for the benefit of all Filipinos even beyond the budget deliberations.
“Magtutuloy ang aking adbokasiya para sa mga makabuluhang reporma sa ating universal health care system gaya ng aking matagal nang pagtulak para dito noon, sa budget deliberations ngayon, at sa patuloy kong pagtatrabaho sa Senado sa hinaharap,” Hontiveros said.
