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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6907

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON, MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has the second most expensive medical services in Southeast Asia at
13.7% health care inflation in 2019.1 According to the Philippine Wellness Index,
nearly half of Filipinos are unsure if they can pay for their hospitalization if they get
sick. At least 40% of the 1,350 respondents from various parts of the country
expressed uncertainty on their capability of paying medical bills.

Most are afraid of availing medical services because of the financial uncertainty
charged by healthcare facilities that usually result in hefty surprise medical bills. A
factor contributing to this problem is the absence of a complete, transparent and
free-from-hidden-costs price list for the patient and their family. It creates a culture
where most Filipinos lack the confidence to address their medical needs and avoid
doctors and hospital visits. This places the nation’s health at risk in the long run.

This bill seeks to require all healthcare facilities in the country to provide a complete
and reliable price list for the patient and their families. By providing a complete list,
it will enable the public to compare the costs of available health services and freely

‘Business World. “Growth in PHL health care costs second-highest in Asia". Retrieved from
‘https://www.bworldonline.com/growth-in-phi-health-care-costs-second-highest-in-asia-mercer/

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decide where to obtain the best and affordable medical services. Further, it would
also protect patients against unfair and misleading sales and practices in some
healthcare facilities by providing a transparent list of services.

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

MANUEL ‘CABOCHAN III

Representative
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 8307

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

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 the House of Representatives of the Philippine in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title— This Act shall be known as “Healthcare Services

Price Disclosure Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby 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 faclitate and guide them in making a conscious choice of healthcare
facility.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.- For purposed of this Act:

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(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 series 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, 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, charge to the patient;

(f) Medical equipment and technology refer to the equipment designed to aid
in providing healthcare services;

(g) 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;

(i) Room and amenities refer to an occupancy room or a ward room where a
patient is admitted for healthcare services, including 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 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.


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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
ules 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 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 of 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 (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 ipso 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

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profession to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as the case may be for
the violation of this Act.

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations The Department of Health, in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause.— If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the other remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause— Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Fffectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,