This was asserted by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) asserted no funds were allegedly lost or corrupted in the IRM (Interim Reimbursement Mechanism).
This is because health care institutions (HCIs) have allegedly liquidated a total of P13.03 billion or 87 percent of the P14.97 billion fund under the IRM, since Dec. 21, 2020.
According to PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Balena, the P14.97 billion IRM fund received by by 711 hospitals nationwide were “all properly accounted for.”
Interim Reimbursement Mechanism is PhilHealth’s cash advance program to give hospitals a calamity fund that patients can use during the pandemic.
“So, these are not lost, these are not pocketed as alleged. The IRM is properly accounted for and this has been used for the patients,” said Balena.
According to PhilHealth data, a total of 353 HCIs have been completed, while another 358 HCIs are awaiting further liquidation.
PhilHealth NCR-Central Region received the largest fund of P1.93 billion, and has already liquidated P1.41 billion.
In August 2020, former PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith revealed to the Senate that agency officials stole P15 billion using various means, including the release of IRM funds to hospitals that no longer hold case of COVID-19.
Also read: House panel to probe PhilHealth’s P14-B IRM cash advances to hospitals
P13 billion IRM fund liquidated – PhilHealth
PhilHealth immediately suspended the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism to study the implementation and address the issues raised in the program.
Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier revealed PhilHealth gave more than P200 million worth of funds to hospitals treating only one COVID-19 patient each.
Lacson said in a radio interview over AM radio station DWIZ that one hospital is located in Eastern Visayas, and one is in Bicol.
The Senator added PhilHealth released P247 million to Bicol and P196 million to Eastern Visayas in just one week.
Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri also bared PhilHealth released P10 million to Golingay General Hospital in Malalag town, Davao del Sur. The hospital has no COVID-19 cases. The facility was an 18-bed infirmary which was allegedly among the top seven highest-paid hospitals in the Davao region for pneumonia claims in previous years.