NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 6967 _

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Health is a basic human right as provided for in Section 15, Article 2 of the
1987 Constitution of the Philippines, which states that: "The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them.”

The exorbitant cost of health care services requires that, for better
appreciation, details of the medical bill are made available to patients. For some
healthcare facilities, patients invariably get billed for the slightest expense items while
being treated in their facility that patients resort to home medication or other form of
medication that might pose a danger to their health.

By providing a complete and reliable price list, to include all incidental expenses
for room and amenities, meals, medicines, and use of medical equipment and
technology, it would enable patients to compare costs and freely decide where best
to obtain the services or supplies that they need. Being informed of the prices in
advance would also help the patients in estimating their medical bill when they are
admitted to the healthcare facility. It would also safeguard patients against misleading
and unfair sales acts and practices in the healthcare facility.


The people deserve meaningful information about the price of healthcare
services. Through the passage of this bill, healthcare facilities will be committed to
share information that will help people make important decisions about their health,
especially for people who lack financial resource and this would eventually achieve the
national goal to have a dependable and effective healthcare delivery.

Healthcare facilities that would fail to comply with and would violate the
provisions of this measure and it's implementing rules and regulations will be
subjected to penalty of a fine and/or suspension of license to practice profession within
a limited period of time.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

No. 6967

House

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

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”.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

(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 needed 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, or in 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 periodontium process of the maxilla and
the mandible that are necessary for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a dental
illness or injury;

(© Healthcare facilities refer to hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers,
diagnostic and laboratory clinics, medical clinics and/or facilities which
provide healthcare services, as defined herein, 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 the cost of 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 professional fees, incidental expenses and
medical supplies, among others, 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 availed
of healthcare services in a healthcare facility; and

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


Sec. 4. Price List of Healthcare Services and Incidental Expenses Including
Medical Supplies Offered and Charged by a Healthcare Facility. - Healthcare facilities
shall provide 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 likewise be easily
accessible to the general public and without need of any further inquiry by posting the
price list in their respective website and in a conspicuous place within the premises of
the healthcare facility.

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

Sec. 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 proper posting as
required in this Act: Provided, That the increase shall not affect patients admitted prior
to the posting of increase in price.

Sec. 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 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 of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not 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 responsble for the violation shall
suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) 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 jpso
facto deported after payment of fine without need of 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.

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

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

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,