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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2820

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Constitution states that “The State shall protect and promote the right
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

According to the Department of Health, “The leading causes of death are diseases of
the heart, diseases of the vascular system, pneumonias, malignant neoplasms/cancers, all
forms of tuberculosis, accidents, COPD and allied conditions, diabetes mellitus,
nephritis/nephritic syndrome and other diseases of respiratory system.”' Seeking treatment
for these diseases require professional medical care. If there are several medical centers
providing healthcare services to treat such diseases, the choice of where to seek medical care
should belong to the patient. However, in order for the patient to make rational decisions,
access to reliable and adequate information is key. Such information should include the
financial costs involved in the treatment of the patient's condition.

Given the rising costs of medical care, a more comprehensive estimate of the financial
costs of such treatment would help prepare patients and their families for the financial burden.
This information is not readily available at present. Hence, this bill seeks to provide the public
with a full disclosure on the price list of healthcare services, including incidental expenses and
medical supplies, charged in the medical bill of all healthcare facilities, both public and private,
in the country.

‘As the government agency mandated to ensure the protection of the public's health,
the Department of Health (DOH) shall be tasked with the responsibility of relaying this
information to the public. The DOH is responsible for ensuring access to basic health services
to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of providers of
health goods and services. It is, therefore, incumbent upon this agency to make certain that
all healthcare facilities offering healthcare services to the public make full disclosure of
information vital for health care planning

This bill is filed during the 16" Congress and subsequently approved on Third Reading,
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

HORACIO. Soman, JR.
1" District, Nueva Ecija 2% Distrt, Sultan Kudarat

ELLITA B. SUANSII

* http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1058


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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2820

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
REQUIRING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE A PRICE LIST OF ITS
HEALTHCARE SERVICES INCLUDING INCIDENTAL EXPENSES AND MEDICAL
‘SUPPLIES THAT CAN BE CHARGED IN THE MEDICAL BILL

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Healthcare Services Price
Disclosure Act of 2014.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. The
State shall enforce a compulsory posting of the price list of healthcare services, including
incidental expenses and medical supplies that can be charged in the medical bill, to enable
‘the public to obtain accurate and adequate information that would facilitate and guide them in
making a conscious choice of healthcare facility.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

a. Diagnostic and laboratory clinic refers to a health facility for X-ray, CT scans,
blood chemistry exams, histopathology and immunopathology, hematology,
urine analysis, parasitology and bacteriology test, serology, blood banking and
other diagnostic examinations that are necessary for the diagnosis and/or
treatment of an illness or injury.

b. Healthcare services refer to the services for the diagnosis, treatment and other
forms of healthcare of individuals suffering from deformity, disease, illness or
injury, orin need of surgical, obstetrical, medical or nursing care that are offered
available and provided by the hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic
and laboratory clinics and other medical clinics.

The term healthcare services shall also include dental services to perform oral
examination, cleaning, permanent and temporary filling, extractions and gum
treatments, restoration, replacement or repositioning of teeth, or alteration of
the alveolar or peridontium process of the maxilla and the mandible that are
necessary for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a dental illness or injury.

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c. Healthcare facilities refer to hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic
and laboratory clinics, medical clinics and/or facilities which provide healthcare
services, as defined under this Act, whether or not there is an operating room
equipment and installed bassinets or beds for the use of patients in the
management of deformities, diseases, injuries, abnormal physical and mental
conditions, and maternity cases

d. Incidental expenses refer to other services provided by the healthcare facility
incidental and in connection with the healthcare services provided such as, but
not limited to, charges for room and amenities, meals, drugs and medicines,
and payments for use of medical equipment and technology,

e. Medical bill refers to the costs of healthcare services rendered by the
healthcare facility including incidental expenses and medical supplies charged
to the patient.

f, Medical equipment and technology refer to the equipment designed to aid in
providing healthcare services

9. Medical supplies refer to all healthcare materials and articles used for providing
healthcare services and can be charged in the medical bill

h. Patient refers to a person seeking admission or who is admitted and has
availed of healthcare services in a healthcare facility.

i. Room and amenities refer to an occupancy room or a ward room where a
patient is admitted for healthcare services, including a detailed list of its
amenities.

SECTION 4. Price List of Healthcare Services and Incidental Expenses Including
Medical Supplies Offered and Charged by a Healthcare Facility. - Healthcare facilities shall
make a price list of its healthcare services, incidental expenses and medical supplies that can
be charged in the medical bill available to any patient or patient's representative, so that the
patient or patient's representative may adequately exercise the option to choose a healthcare
facility. The price list shall ikewise be easily accessible to the general public and without need
of any further inquiry by posting the price list in a conspicuous place within the premises of the
healthcare facility.

All medical bills shall list and itemize all healthcare services, incidental expenses and
medical supplies availed or used by the patient with their corresponding prices charged to the
patient.

SECTION 5. Price List of Healthcare Services, Incidental Expenses and Medical
Supplies Binding on Healthcare Facility. - The price list of healthcare services, incidental
expenses and medical supplies shall be binding on the healthcare facility upon the admission
of the patient. Any increase in the price of healthcare services, incidental expenses and
medical supplies shall take effect only after posting as required in this Act: Provided, That the
increase shall not affect patients admitted prior to posting of increase in price.

SECTION 6. Penalties. - (a) Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act
or its implementing rules and regulations shall be subject to a fine of not less than Five

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thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) per
instance of violation without prejudice to administrative sanctions such as suspension or
cancellation of license to practice profession for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days.

(b) Any juridical person which violates the provisions of this Act shall suffer the penalty
of a fine not less than Ten thousand pesos (P'10,000.00) nor more than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) per instance of violation and suspension or revocation of license to operate such
healthcare facility for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days: Provided, That its officers directly
responsible for the violation shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five thousand
pesos (5,000.00) but not more than Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) per instance
of violation and suspension or revocation of license to practice profession for a period not
exceeding sixty (60) days: Provided, further, That if the guilty party is an alien, he shall be joso
facto deported after payment of fine without need for further proceedings.

The Secretary of Health shall have the authority to impose the administrative fines and
sanctions provided herein including suspension or revocation of license to operate such
healthcare facility or recommend suspension of license to practice profession to the
Professional Regulation Commission as the case may be for the violation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Implementing Agency. — The Department of Health (DOH) shall enforce
the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local
Government, shall issue the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of
this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations and administrative regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation

Approved,

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