Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2092 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the past decade, Rehabilitation Medicine as a field of specialization 
experienced growth in all aspects. The number of trainees, graduates, and 
certified diplomats and fellows has increased tremendously. There has also 
been a markedly fast pace at which rehabilitation centers have sprouted 
throughout the country, all with the noble intent of delivering expert 
rehabilitative care to Filipinos suffering from neuromusculoskeletal, 
cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other system disorders. 
However, many of these rehabilitation centers are not headed by 
physiatrists (medical specialists who trained a minimum of three (3) years in 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine) 
but 
by 
other 
medical 
and 
allied 
health 
professionals. By the nature of their training, physiatrists are in the best 
position to head rehabilitation centers and supervise the allied rehabilitative 
professionals: physical therapist, occupational therapists, speech therapist, 
orthotists, and prosthetists. 
In the medical field, it is the physiatrist who is the specialist in 
medical rehabilitation and who is trained to evaluate and treat patients with 
physical disabilities from the rehabilitation standpoint, and to manage and 
administer Rehabilitation Medicine departments, centers, clinics or other 
similar facilities. 
July 17, 2025
4:00 pm


2 
It is the objective of this proposed Rehabilitation Medicine Act to set 
standards for the training and practice of Rehabilitation Medicine as well as 
technical and operational standards for rehabilitation centers to enable 
them to function at the highest level of standards as headed and supervised 
by duly trained and certified physiatrists. This way, the interests of the 
Filipino patients who seek treatment from these centers are fully protected. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2092 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
STANDARDS 
FOR 
THE 
PRACTICE 
OF 
REHABILITATION MEDICINE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the 
1 
“Medical Rehabilitation Standards Act of 2019”. 
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
3 
protect and promote the right to health of the people by making the 
4 
delivery of expert rehabilitative care to Filipinos suffering from 
5 
neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and other system 
6 
disorders 
which 
produce 
temporary 
or 
permanent 
disability 
7 
accessible, effective and affordable. Toward this end, standards for 
8 
the effective practice of Rehabilitation Medicine and for the 
9 
establishment, management and operations of rehabilitation facilities 
10 
are hereby established. 
11 


 
2 
 
 
 
SEC. 3. Definitions. – As used in this Act, the following terms 
1 
shall mean: 
2 
 
(a) Rehabilitation Medicine - the branch of medicine which deals 
3 
with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation 
4 
of neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and 
5 
other system disorders which produce temporary or 
6 
permanent disability in patients as well as the performance 
7 
of different diagnostic procedures, including, but not limited 
8 
to, 
electromyography 
and 
other 
electrodiagnostic 
9 
techniques. It also involves specialized medical care and 
10 
training of patients with loss of any function so that they 
11 
may obtain or be able to function to their maximum 
12 
potential, 
physically, 
psychologically, 
socially 
and 
13 
vocationally, providing special attention and care to prevent 
14 
complications or deterioration, and to assist in physiologic 
15 
adaptation of disability. In addition, the practice of 
16 
Rehabilitation Medicine uses agents such as heat, light, 
17 
water, electricity, therapeutic exercise and mechanical 
18 
agents in its treatment armamentarium. 
19 
(b) Medical Rehabilitation – the process of helping a person 
20 
reach the fullest physical, psychological, social, vocational 
21 
and educational potential consistent with his or her 
22 


 
3 
 
 
 
physiologic 
or 
anatomic 
impairments, 
environmental 
1 
limitations and life plans. 
2 
(c) Physiatrist - a physician who is licensed and duly registered 
3 
with the Professional Regulation Commission and who 
4 
completed 
three 
(3) 
years 
of 
residency 
training 
in 
5 
Rehabilitation Medicine in a Philippine Board Rehabilitation 
6 
Medicine-accredited training institution. 
7 
(d) Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) – a non-
8 
stock, non- profit corporation, duly recognized by the 
9 
Professional Regulation Commission and the Philippine 
10 
Medical 
Association 
composed 
of 
Board 
Certified 
11 
Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists tasked with accrediting 
12 
and 
evaluating 
training 
institutions 
specializing 
in 
13 
Rehabilitation Medicine, and certifying graduates of these 
14 
training institutions. 
15 
(e) Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner/Psychiatrist - a licensed 
16 
physician who completed a residency training program in 
17 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
in 
a 
Philippine 
Board 
of 
18 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
(PBRM) 
accredited 
training 
19 
institution. They shall be qualified by the PBRM as: 
20 
A) Board Eligible Physiatrist – refers to one who completed 
21 
residency training in a PBRM-accredited residency 
22 
training program but who has not successfully completed 
23 
the specialty board examination. 
24 


 
4 
 
 
 
B) Board Certified (Diplomate) – refers to those have passed 
1 
Part I (written) and Part II (oral) of the Diplomate Board 
2 
Examination 
given 
by 
the 
Philippine 
Board 
of 
3 
Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM). 
4 
(f) Rehabilitation Medicine Center/Facility/Unit – any facility 
5 
that renders services for the rehabilitation of physical 
6 
disabilities and which may be hospital-based of free-
7 
standing. 
8 
(g) Rehabilitation Medicine Team – a group of medical and allied 
9 
health 
professionals 
concerned 
with 
the 
medical 
10 
rehabilitation of patients with physical disabilities. The team 
11 
is headed by a physiatrist and is composed of, but not 
12 
limited to, the following: 
13 
1. Physical Therapists 
14 
2. Occupational Therapists 
15 
3. Prosthetists and Orthotists 
16 
4. Rehabilitation Nurses 
17 
5. Speech Pathologists 
18 
6. Social Workers 
19 
7. Vocational Counselors 
20 
8. Recreational Therapists 
21 
 
SEC. 4. Scope of Practice. – The practice of Rehabilitation 
22 
Medicine includes: 
23 


 
5 
 
 
 
(a) Professional services related to the care of an individual 
1 
patient, rendered either as a physician primarily responsible 
2 
for individual patient care or as a consultant to another 
3 
physician, and consists of: 
4 
 
1. History taking, examination of patients, performance 
5 
of specific diagnostic procedures for the purpose of 
6 
establishing diagnosis and evaluation of disability, 
7 
impairment, functional capacity and potential for 
8 
rehabilitation; 
9 
2. Prescription and rendering of appropriate medical  
10 
treatment which may include any or all aspects of 
11 
physical medicine as well as rehabilitative measures, 
12 
including but not limited to physical therapy, 
13 
occupational therapy, speech therapy and orthotic 
14 
and prosthetic services. 
15 
3. Follow-up examination of patients in offices, hospitals, 
16 
rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities or 
17 
home for purposes of re-evaluation and treatment 
18 
modifications; 
19 
4. Appropriate 
consultation 
with 
other 
medical 
20 
specialists; 
21 


 
6 
 
 
 
5. Counseling and conference with non-physician health 
1 
care professionals or family concerning conduct of 
2 
patient’s care or patient’s progress; and 
3 
6. Examination of patient’s records, preparation of 
4 
reports, designing, planning, and implementation of 
5 
health programs for the maintenance of health and 
6 
prevention of disability; and correspondence as well as 
7 
appearance in court or providing testimony pertaining 
8 
to a patient. 
9 
 
(b) Professional services related to the administration of 
10 
rehabilitation facilities or units consist of: 
11 
1. Professional general supervision of rehabilitation 
12 
services in a hospital-based rehabilitation center or 
13 
unit of any other free standing units that render 
14 
limited rehabilitation services, convalescent home and 
15 
private homes, for quality assurance and appropriate 
16 
utilization of services; 
17 
2. Planning, establishment and management of facilities, 
18 
equipment and personnel for the performance of 
19 
functions and activities of a rehabilitation department 
20 
or unit, or any other free standing unit that render 
21 
limited rehabilitation services, convalescent home and 
22 


 
7 
 
 
 
private homes, for quality assurance and appropriate 
1 
utilization of services; 
2 
3. Maintenance of complete and accurate records and 
3 
statistics; 
4 
4. Education of physicians and allied health care 
5 
professionals in Rehabilitation Medicine, both local 
6 
and foreign, for programs related to Rehabilitation 
7 
Medicine; 
8 
5. Education of the public on health care issues 
9 
pertaining 
to 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
through 
10 
research and medical education; 
11 
6. Promoting professional development of Rehabilitation 
12 
Medicine through research and medical education; 
13 
7. Designing, planning and implementing of health 
14 
programs for maintenance of health and prevention of 
15 
disability; 
16 
8. Establishing  linkages  with  government  and  non-
17 
government agencies, both local 
and 
foreign, 
for 
18 
programs related to Rehabilitation Medicine; 
19 
9. Promotion of the team approach among medical and 
20 
allied medical health care professionals in the holistic 
21 
care of patients; and 
22 
10. 
Setting 
standards 
for 
compensation 
of 
23 
Rehabilitation Medicine services. 
24 


 
8 
 
 
 
 
(c) Guidelines for Practice in a Rehabilitation Medicine Facility: 
1 
1. Every patient shall be examined and diagnosed by a 
2 
physiatrist. The physiatrist recommends, prescribes 
3 
and supervises an individual treatment plan. The 
4 
treatment plan and rehabilitation program shall be 
5 
regularly reviewed on a team basis. 
6 
2. Medications and various other therapies shall be 
7 
prescribed by a physiatrist. 
8 
3. The physiatrist has the primary responsibility of 
9 
regularly following-up on patients in his charge and 
10 
modifying or terminating treatment. 
11 
4. A physiatrist shall head the facility/unit and shall 
12 
supervise the delivery of rehabilitation medicine 
13 
services 
rendered 
by 
other 
members 
of 
the 
14 
Rehabilitation Medicine team. In areas where there is 
15 
no physiatrist, a licensed physician shall head the 
16 
facility unit. 
17 
5. If a physicians is not competent to manage a patient, 
18 
he shall consult or refer to another physiatrist or 
19 
physician who is competent in the particular disease 
20 
or condition requiring treatment. 
21 
6. A Board certified physiatrist may head not more than 
22 
three (3) Rehabilitation Medicine facilities. In the 
23 


 
9 
 
 
 
absence of a Board Certified physiatrist, a Board 
1 
eligible physiatrist may head the facility, provided that 
2 
he conforms to the requirements of the PBRM. 
3 
7. The physiatrist shall charge professional fees in 
4 
accordance with the standards of the Philippine 
5 
Medical 
Association 
and 
the 
Philippine 
Health 
6 
Insurance System (PHILHEALTH). 
7 
8. The physiatrist shall conduct himself in a manner 
8 
consistent with the Code of Ethics of the Philippine 
9 
Medical Association. 
10 
 
SEC. 5. Qualifications to Practice. – A physician who is a 
11 
Board Certified/Board Eligible physiatrist, of good moral character 
12 
and is a member of the Philippine Medical Association is qualified to 
13 
practice Rehabilitation Medicine. 
14 
 
SEC. 6. Accreditation and Certification. – This Act aims to 
15 
establish the standards for the practice of Rehabilitation Medicine 
16 
and the certification of Rehabilitation Medicine practitioners in order 
17 
to ensure the highest quality of  professional  rehabilitation  service  
18 
to  the  public  and  to  the  medical community. 
19 
 
(a) Accreditation of the Physiatrist 
20 


 
10 
 
 
 
1. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner eligible for 
1 
accreditation is a graduate of a Philippine Board of 
2 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
(PBRM) 
– 
accredited 
3 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
training 
institution 
and 
4 
certified by the PBRM as: 
5 
1.a Board certified (Diplomate) 
6 
1.b Board Eligible 
7 
 
2. A 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
Practitioner 
is 
duly 
8 
recognized as PBRM Board Certified upon compliance 
9 
with and submission of the following requirements; 
10 
2.a. 
Authenticated 
Professional 
Regulation 
11 
Commission (PRC) ID as a duly registered physician. 
12 
2.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM 
13 
accredited 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
training 
14 
institution. 
15 
2.c. 
Certificate 
from 
the 
Philippine 
Board 
of 
16 
Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM). 
17 
 
3. A 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
Practitioner 
is 
duly 
18 
recognized as PBRM Board Eligible upon compliance 
19 
with and submission of the following requirements: 
20 
3.a. 
Authenticated 
Professional 
Regulation 
21 
Commission (PRC) ID as duly registered physician 
22 


 
11 
 
 
 
3.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM 
1 
accredited 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
training 
2 
institution. 
3 
3.c. Certificate of Eligibility from PBRM. 
4 
 
4. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner, who is duly 
5 
recognized as PBRM Board Eligible, must upgrade to a 
6 
PBRM Board Certified status within five (5) years after 
7 
graduation from a PBRM-accredited Rehabilitation 
8 
Medicine training institution. Forfeiture of this Board 
9 
eligibility status is incumbent upon review and 
10 
evaluation of the PBRM Board of Governors. 
11 
 
(b) Continuing 
Certification 
of 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
12 
Specialists – A Certified Diplomate of the Philippine Board of 
13 
Rehabilitation Medicine, in order to be duly recognized as a 
14 
rehabilitation 
Medicine 
specialist, 
must 
undergo 
re-
15 
certification 
every 
three 
(3) 
years 
through 
PBRM 
16 
accreditation. 
17 
 
SEC. 7. Technical Standards and Requirements for the 
18 
Registration, Operation and Maintenance of Rehabilitation 
19 
Medicine Facilities. – Technical standards and requirements for the 
20 
registration, operation and maintenance or rehabilitation medicine 
21 


 
12 
 
 
 
facilities shall apply to all entities performing the activities and 
1 
functions of Rehabilitation Medicine facilities. These shall include the 
2 
evaluation and treatment of all conditions requiring rehabilitation of 
3 
physical disabilities. These standards and requirements shall be 
4 
formulated to protect and promote the health of the people through 
5 
the implementation of standards to ensure proper management and 
6 
adequate support for Rehabilitation Medicine facilities. 
7 
 
SEC. 8. Regulatory Authority – Technical standards and 
8 
requirements for the registration and maintenance of Rehabilitation 
9 
Medicine Facilities in the Philippines shall be implemented and 
10 
regulated by the Department of Health-Bureau of Health Facilities 
11 
and Services (DOH-BHFS). 
12 
 
SEC. 9. Classification of Facilities. – Rehabilitation Medicine 
13 
facilities shall be classified according to the institutional character, 
14 
and extent of services offered. The bases for the classification of the 
15 
different categories of Rehabilitation facilities are: (1) Physiatrist 
16 
qualification, (2) Allied Health personnel staff qualification, (3) 
17 
rehabilitation Medicine services available and (4) Physical set-up and 
18 
equipment. 
19 
 
(a) Categories 
20 


 
13 
 
 
 
1. As to institutional character, Rehabilitation Medicine 
1 
facilities are either hospital based (if operating within 
2 
a hospital set-up) or free standing (if operating on its 
3 
own or part of a facility other than a hospital).  
4 
2. As to the extent of services, Rehabilitation Medicine 
5 
facilities maybe primary, secondary, tertiary, or home-
6 
based. 
7 
3. As to function, a Rehabilitation Medicine facility may 
8 
be utilized for training services and research or for 
9 
services alone. 
10 
4. As to services, a rehabilitation Medicine facility can 
11 
also be either general or specialized. 
12 
 
(b) A primary rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the 
13 
following: 
14 
1. At least one (1) PBRM eligible physiatrist; 
15 
2. At 
least 
one 
(1) 
allied 
rehabilitation 
health 
16 
professional; 
17 
3. Rehabilitation 
 
Medicine 
 
consultation 
 
and  
18 
management  with physical therapy services; 
19 
4. Physical set-up; 
20 
5. Medical consultation area; 
21 


 
14 
 
 
 
6. Treatment area to include at least an electro therapy 
1 
device and superficial heating modality, and ADFL 
2 
training devices; 
3 
7. Gym area, to include parallel bars, mirror, weights 
4 
and assistive devices such as canes, crutches and 
5 
walkers among others; 
6 
8. Evaluation tools; 
7 
9. Adequate utilities 
such as water, electricity and 
8 
consumables; and 
9 
10. 
First Aid kit with basic CPR equipment 
10 
 
(c) A secondary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the 
11 
following: 
12 
1. At least one (1) PBRM Board certified Physiatrist; 
13 
2. At least one (1) licensed therapist and occupational 
14 
therapist; 
15 
3. Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
consultation 
and 
16 
management, physical therapy and occupational 
17 
therapy services; and 
18 
4. Compliance with the primary category set-up plus 
19 
deep 
heating 
modality, 
manual 
traction 
and 
20 
therapeutic exercise equipment for the gym area. 
21 
 


 
15 
 
 
 
(d) A tertiary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the 
1 
following: 
2 
1. At least one (1) PBRM Board certified physiatrist; 
3 
2. At least one (1) licensed physical therapist and 
4 
occupational therapist; 
5 
3. Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
consultation 
and 
6 
management, 
physical, 
occupational 
therapy,  
7 
prosthetist  and  orthotist  in-house  or referral 
8 
services, speech therapy in-house or referral services; 
9 
4. Compliance with the secondary category set-up and 
10 
equipments, with additional two (2) superficial healing 
11 
modalities, medium frequency modality, mechanized 
12 
traction, 
ultraviolet 
or 
cold 
laser 
intermittent 
13 
compression unit, mechanized intermittent traction 
14 
and tilt table with additional gym equipment. 
15 
5. A Training/Service and Research facility, which shall 
16 
fulfill all the requirements as a residency training 
17 
institution in accordance with PBRM guidelines. 
18 
6. A specialized facility which should cater to sub-
19 
specialty 
conditions 
in 
rehabilitation 
medicine 
20 
including cardiac, pain, pediatric, pulmonary, sports, 
21 
among others, shall be a hospital-based facility with a 
22 
multi-disciplinary set-up. 
23 
 


 
16 
 
 
 
SEC. 10. Management and Operation of a Rehabilitation 
1 
Medicine Facility. – A Rehabilitation Medicine Facility 
shall 
be 
2 
headed by a Rehabilitation Medicine specialist who is either a PBRM 
3 
Certified or Eligible Rehabilitation Medicine specialist in the said 
4 
facility. An adequate and effective system of documentation, 
5 
recording and records keeping must be maintained for all 
6 
consultations and services in the facility. The rates for consultation 
7 
and services shall be in accordance with the standards of the 
8 
Philippine Medical Association and PHILHEALTH. 
9 
 
SEC. 11. Application for Registration and Issuance of 
10 
License. – Applications for registration and issuance of a license shall 
11 
be filed by the owner of the facility or his duly authorized 
12 
representative with the DOH-Bureau of Health Facilities and Services 
13 
(DOH-BHFS), together with an information sheet to be filled-up by 
14 
the physiatrist-in-charge. Upon receipt of the said application 
15 
together with the payment of the license fee, a technical committee
16 
 will inspect the facility within sixty (60) days. Certificates of licenses 
17 
shall be issued and approved by the Head of the Bureau of Health 
18 
Facilities Services. A provisional license may be granted to facilities 
19 
with 28 insufficient requirements for a period not exceeding one (1) 
20 
year. 
21 
 


 
17 
 
 
 
SEC. 12. Terms and Validity of License. – The license to 
1 
operate will only be valid for a period of two (2) years. Application for 
2 
renewal of the license shall be made during the last six (6) months of 
3 
validity. The license must be displayed in a conspicuous place within 
4 
the facility. A copy of the rules and regulations should also be readily 
5 
available. Any violation of any of the standards provided in this Act 
6 
shall be a ground for a license to be revoked. Charges or complaints 
7 
against a Rehabilitation Medicine facility or any of its personnel shall 
8 
be submitted for investigation to the PBRM when complaint is against 
9 
a physiatrist, and to the Department of Health-Bureau of Health 
10 
Facilities and Services for other complaints. 
11 
 
SEC. 13. Penalties. – Any person, partnership, association or 
12 
corporation who shall establish, operate, conduct, manage or 
13 
maintain a rehabilitation medicine facility within the meaning of this 
14 
Act without first obtaining a license, or violates any provision of this 
15 
Act or its implementing rules and regulations shall be imposed a fine 
16 
of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) but not 
17 
exceeding Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) for the first 
18 
offense, and not less than Four Hundred Thousand Pesos 
19 
(P400,000.00) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
20 
(P500,000.00) for the second offense, and not less than Five Hundred 
21 
Thousand  Pesos  (P500,000.00)  but  not  to  exceed  Seven  
22 
Hundred  Fifty Thousand  Pesos  (P7500,000.00)  for  the  third  
23 


 
18 
 
 
 
offense  and  each  of  the subsequent offenses. Each day that a 
1 
facility or other related facility shall operate after the first violation 
2 
shall be considered a subsequent offense. 
3 
 
In addition to the penalties specified in the preceding 
4 
paragraph, the DOH-BHFS, upon the approval of the Secretary, may 
5 
summarily order the closure of any rehabilitation medicine facility 
6 
found operating without a license. 
7 
 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – The 
8 
DOH-BHFS, 
in 
coordination 
with 
the 
national 
professional 
9 
organization 
duly 
recognized 
by 
the 
Professional 
Regulation 
10 
Commission, shall promulgate the rules and regulations, including 
11 
the technical standards and requirements for the registration, 
12 
operation and maintenance of rehabilitation medicine facilities, 
13 
within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.  
14 
 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of the 
15 
Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof 
16 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
17 
effect. 
18 
 


 
19 
 
 
 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, rules and 
1 
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
2 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
3 
 
SEC. 17. – The This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
4 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of 
5 
general circulation. 
6 
 
Approved,