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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

(> \CCEIVED
a nec 5 2019

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_4027

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4" District, Bulacacan

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 9439 entitled: “An Act Prohibiting the Detention of Patients in
Hospitals and Medical Clinics on the Ground of Non-Payment of Hospital Bills or Medical
Expenses” provided reprieve to indigent patients who were unable to settle their medical
expenses from being inhumanely detained in hospitals.

However, the law did not address the imposition of interest or penalties on medical
expenses that are left by indigent patients who could not afford to pay their hospital bills.
This aggravates further the plight of these patients, who do not only have to contend with
paying their hospital bills, but also the interest due these unpaid accounts.

Therefore, to provide substantive relief to indigent patients, this bill seeks to prohibit
the imposition of interest and/or penalty charges on unpaid hospital bills and medical
expenses of patients who earn minimum wage or less, for one year from the patient’s
discharge. The one year allowance is given in the hope that this will be enough time for the
patients to fully settle their medical bills before they are charged with interest and/or
penalties.

This proposed bill was filed in the 17" Congress but due to time constraints no further
action was taken on it. This bill is re-filed for the consideration of the 18 Congress.

Support for enactment of this measure is earnestly requested.

REP. eee


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 4017

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4" District, Bulacan

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF INTEREST AND/OR PENALTY
CHARGES ON UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS AND MEDICAL EXPENSES OF PATIENTS
WHO EARN MINIMUM WAGE OR LESS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people.

SEC. 2. Prohibition on Interest and/or Penalty Charges on Unpaid Hospital Bills or
Medical Expenses. — It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to charge interest
or impose other penalties on unpaid hospital bills and medical expenses of patients who earn
minimum wage or less, for one year from the date of the discharge.

This prohibition shall likewise apply to the unpaid hospital bills and medical expenses
of minor patients whose parents or legal guardians earn minimum wage or less.

Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible for billing who
violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty thousand
pesos (Php20,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but more than six (6) months, or both stich fine
and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health’ shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act within
ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 7


SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. ~ Alll laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
and issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or

modified accordingly.
SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,