HOLS. OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECE I
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ) EIVED
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

"STATION UNIT
) ADEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Health is a basic human right as provided for in Section 15, Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine

Constitution, which states:

“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health

consciousness among them.”

‘An increasing number of Filipinos are concerned about the high cost of medical care in the
Philippines and whether they can afford hospital bills and medical bills without health insurance. For
those without good health insurance, the threat of being financially ruined by a setious family
sickness is a grave concern. For the very poor, a treatable illness can be a family tragedy.

Hospital bills and the costs of procedures are exorbitant; and similarly even doctor's bills and
medicines ate becoming too expensive. Resultantly, we are becoming a nation avoids doctors and
hospital visits due to the expenses, this obviously puts people’s health at risk.

‘This proposed bill will provide for transparent, accessible and reliable information on the
prices of healthcare services, including incidental expenses and all items that can be found in a
‘medical bill by requiring healthcare facilities to provide a price list of the said services and items

Knowing the prices in advance enables the public to make intelligent estimates of the costs
they would incur upon admission of the patient and allows them to avoid surprises in the billing
once the patient is discharged

For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

—h
VICTOR|
Representative, 2" District of Tarlac


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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 541.

Introduced by Representative Victor A. Yap

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 2016”.

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. — 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, 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, of 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 ot injury.

(© 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,


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whether ot 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.

(@ 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.

(© Medical bill refers to the costs of healthcare services rendered by the healthcare facility including

incidental expenses and medical supplies charged to the patient.

(8 Medical equipment and technology refer to the equipment designed to aid in providing healthcare

services.

@ 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.

@ 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.

SEC. 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
likewise 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 ot 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
inctease 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 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 mote than ‘Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) per instance of violation without prejudice


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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 (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 (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
farther 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 ot
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 or modified accordingly.

SEC. 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,