255 Poor Cebu City Residents Get Zero Bill from City Hospital

Some 255 indigent residents here have been given free medical services at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) under the “No Balance Billing” policy, a CCMC official said.

Lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, CCMC chief of hospital for administration, said the program assures indigents of free hospitalization, including medicines.

He said 745 more indigent residents will be accommodated by the city hospital for the remainder of the year.

CCMC started the implementation of the “No Balance Billing” policy last July.

Panugaling said they are still trying to perfect the system to ensure that indigent patients do not spend a single centavo for medicines and medical procedures.

As of Aug. 31, the city has enrolled 255 indigents in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) with an annual premium of PHP2,400.

Panugaling explained that under this program, indigent patients whose medical bills exceeded the PhilHealth coverage will be aided by the city’s social welfare officers in looking for ways to pay the services.

This will be done by tapping either the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) or the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services.

The same policy applies to indigents who need to undergo tests that are not available in CCMC, like a CT scan or an MRI.

Panugaling said they hope to help more indigents since there are 1,000 slots for PhilHealth membership this year alone. (PNA) LAP/JSV/EB/SSC