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Republic of the Philippines  
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The government continues to strengthen its commitment to accessible health care 
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through programs that provide direct support to those in need. One of these is the Medical 
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Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program, which offers 
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financial aid for hospitalization, medicines, and other essential medical services. 
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This measure seeks to institutionalize and expand MAIP by mandating the acceptance 
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of Letters of Guarantee (LOGs), setting clear guidelines on payment and fund use, and requiring 
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transparency through regular reporting. 
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By ensuring that the most vulnerable Filipinos receive timely assistance, this bill affirms 
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the State’s duty to uphold the constitutional right to health and to protect every citizen from 
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being denied treatment because of poverty. 
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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      REP. JERNIE JETT V. NISAY 
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      Pusong Pinoy Partylist 
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September 10, 2025
3:58 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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AN ACT 
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FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT PATIENTS  
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UNDER THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT AND FINANCIALLY  
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INCAPACITATED PATIENTS (MAIFIP) PROGRAM AND MANDATING  
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THE ACCEPTANCE OF LETTERS OF GUARANTEE FROM THE GOVERNMENT 
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AS PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL OR HOSPITAL BILLS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. –  This Act shall be known as the "Medical Assistance to 
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IndigentPatients (MAIP) Program Act." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State that it shall provide comprehensive 
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health care services to all Filipino and provide free health care services to indigents.3Itis the 
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State's policyto adoptan integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which 
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shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
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people at affordable cost and to provide free medical care to paupers. Towards this end, the 
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State shall provide comprehensive health care services to all Filipinos through a socialized 
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health insurance program that will prioritize the health care needs of the underprivileged, sick, 
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elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women and children and provide free health care 
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services to indigents and financially incapacitated individuals. 
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The State through its Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2020-0060, 
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the "Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients 
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(MAIP) Program" attempts to provide universal health care coverage and financial protection 
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while providing access to health care, to Filipinos. This Act provides the legislative framework 
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to enhance and strengthen the implementation and realizations of the objective of the said 
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measure. 
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SEC. 3. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to the following health facilities and offices: DOH 
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Central Office, Center for Health Development units (CHDs) and the Ministry of Health-
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Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM), DOH Hospitals 
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including Specialty and Special, DOH-Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DOH-
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DATRC), DepartmentofNational Defense (DND) Hospitals, Department of the Interior and Local 
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Government (DILG) including Local Government Units (LGUs) and Philippine National Police 
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(PNP) Hospitals, Department of Justice (DOJ) Infirmaries, State Universities and Colleges 
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(SUCs) Hospitals, and Private Hospitals and Private Health Facilities. 
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SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(a) Basic or ward accommodation – refers to the provision of regular meal, bed in shared 
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room, fan ventilation, and shared toilet and bath 
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(b) Case Rate – refers to fixed-rate or amount that Philhealth will reimburse for a specific 
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illness/case as defined by Philhealth Circular No. 0035 s. 2013 and other related 
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Philhealth Circulars. 
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(c) Catastrophic Disease – refers to a severe illness requiring prolonged hospitalization or 
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recovery. These include, but not limited to, cancer, psychiatric conditions, heart attack 
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or stroke, and severe, life-threatening, and long-term effects of diabetes. These 
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illnesses usually involve high costs of bills and medical expenses causing financial 
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hardship which may incapacitate the person from being productive.  
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(d) Catastrophic Health Expenditure refers to out-of-pocket spending for health care that 
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exceeds a certain allotted portion of a household's income consequently rendering the 
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household financially incapable of addressing other domestic and related expenses. 
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(e) Compassionate Drug Use – refers to the use of drugs or medicine not included in the 
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Philippine National Formulary by patients with serious or life-threatening conditions 
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when no other treatments are available. 
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(f) Health facility – refers to government and private hospitals licensed by the DOH and/or 
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accredited by the Philhealth, with the capacity to subsidize medical assistance and 
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expenses and which can comply with the MAIP Program documentary/reportorial 
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requirements necessary for the implementation of the MAIP Program as specified in 
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Section 3. 
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(g) MAIP Program Beneficiary – refers to an indigent and financially incapacitated patient 
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who demonstrates clear inability to pay or spend for necessary expenditures for one's 
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medical treatment,such as patients with catastrophic illness, or any illness, which is life 
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or limb-threatening and requires prolonged hospitalization, extremely expensive 
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therapies or other special but essential care that would deplete one's financial 
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resources, as assessed and certified by the Medical Social Worker (MSW). 
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(h) MAIP Program Fund – refers to the fund intended for the medical assistance to indigent 
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and financially incapacitated patients 
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(i) Non-basic ward accommodation – refers to accommodation in the health facility, which 
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is not in the category of basic ward accommodation. 
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(j) Total Charges – refer to the hospital bill and cost of services including, not limited to, 
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medical, surgical and professional fees incurred by a patient seeking care in a health 
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facility. 
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SEC. 5.  GENERAL MECHANISMS. - 
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1. The Malasakit Program Office (MPO) formerly known as the Public Assistance Unit 
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(PAU) of the Central Office of the Department of Health, shall be responsible for the 
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overall management and administration of the MAIP Program. 
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2. The MAIP Program shall provide support for drugs, medicine, medical/orthopedic 
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devices, dental services (except those that are for aesthetic purposes and not medically 
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indicated) or other medically related needs prescribed by the physician of a health facility 
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of in-patients and out-patients in excess of the packages/case rates covered by 
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PhilHealth or other financing sources subject to the availability of funds. All participating 
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hospitals/institutions/office units shall strictly observe the implementation process under 
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the MAIP Program. 
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3. All DOH Hospitals (including Specialty and Special Hospitals) and UP-PGH shall use 
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the Enhanced Web-Based Public Assistance Information System (EWEBPAIS). 
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4. The DOH, through the MPO, and the CHDs in coordination with the Field 
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Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT), shall establish connections and 
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linkages with other health facilities for a more integrated and interconnected efficiency. 
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For the CHDs, a Regional MAIP Program Coordinator shall be designated to ensure 
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that these guidelines are strictly observed. For hospitals, the Director/Chief of the health 
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facility shall assign the Head of the Medical Social Services as Hospital MAIP Program 
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Coordinator. 
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5. The Coordinator shall be responsible for the overall management, registry of patients, 
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coordination, program monitoring, and submission of reportorial requirements including 
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monthly financial report to the CHDs, Financial Management Services (FMS), and the 
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MPO. 
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6. The Administrative and Financial Management Team (AFMT) through the FMS and the 
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MPO, shall facilitate the efficient sub-allotment and transfer of MAIP Program funds to 
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the CHDs and Health Facilities. Release of subsequent medical assistance by the DOH 
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to health facilities shall be made only when at least fifty (50%) of the amount previously 
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sub-allotted/transferred has been liquidated and submitted to the CHD concerned, and 
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stamped received by the Commission on Audit (COA). It shall also adhere to the terms 
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of agreement set by the DOH Central Office and CHD for the efficient, seamless, and 
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orderly implementation of the Program. 
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7. Health facilities shall enforce a diligent and thorough screening of beneficiaries to 
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ensure efficient and rational use of funds and reliable documentation and encoding of 
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data through the system prescribed by the DOH. 
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8. No medical assistance provided under the MAIP Program shall be converted into cash. 
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9. The DOH shall post in its website the name of recipient hospitals, number of patients 
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served and total amount or value of provided medical assistance. The DOH's web 
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administrator or its equivalent, the Knowledge Management, and Information 
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Technology Service, and the MPO, shall be responsible for ensuring that the said 
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information are posted on the DOH website. 
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SEC 
6. ELIGIBILITY 
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BENEFICIARIES 
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DOCUMENTARY 
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REQUIREMENTS. – All MAIP Program beneficiaries as defined shall be eligible for medical 
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assistance under the Program subject to terms and conditions. Patients availing of coverage or 
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benefits shall go to the Medical Social Service or the Designated Officer of the health facility for 
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presentation of documents, assessment, and evaluation. A referral may be issued by the 
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Central Office and CHO. Documentary requirements shall include but not be limited to for in-
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patient: total charges and assessment of the MSW of the Hospital or Municipal/City Social 
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Welfare Officer for those in LGU Hospital; for out-patient: doctor's prescription/request/order 
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and assessment of the MSW; for referred patient: inter-agency referral form with attached 
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physician's prescription or requestor protocol, and Medical Certificate or Clinical Abstract. 
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Patients who are in need of medicine or drugs shall be examined by a doctor of the recipient or 
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serving hospital. For non-ambulatory patients, a physician's certificate attesting to the veracity 
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of the physical condition of the shall be required. 
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SECTION 7. ACCESS PROCEDURES TO BE FORMULATED. – The Department of 
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Health and other line agencies and concerned government offices shall formulate rules, 
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regulations, and guidelines as to procedures that cover the following: 
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A. Eligibility Assessment – The Medical Social Worker (MSW) shall assess patients 
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applying for medical assistance. 
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B. Processing of Medical Assistance – The MSW shall then process the making available 
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of the medical assistance to the applying patient. 
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C. Provision of Service – Health facilities shall provide the necessary/medical services, and 
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document the said provision or medical attention/service provided to the patient. 
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SECTION 8. COVERAGE OF SERVICE. – The MAIP Program fund shall over essential and 
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life-saving medicine, services, and other medical products as prescribed by a licensed 
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physician or health professional such as not limited to the following: 
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A. Drugs and medicines included in the Philippine National Formulary and those which 
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qualify for compassionate drug use in compliance with the criteria or requirements set 
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by the Food and Drug Administration. 
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B. Laboratory, imaging, radiological, and other diagnostic procedures. 
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C. Blood and other related blood screening/products. 
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D. All clinically indicated medical, surgical, high-risk cases of obstetrics - gynecological, 
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ophthalmological, dental, implants, medical devices and supplies, and other relevant 
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procedures.  
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E. In case of non-availability of clinically indicated drugs and medicines, services, and 
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procedures, and lack of available beds in the government health facility as certified by 
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the Chief of Hospital or his/her designated official, the concerned health facility may 
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enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DOH licensed and Philhealth 
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accredited government/private health facility to provide the needs of the patient charged 
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to MAIP Program funds, subject to the guidelines set by the DOH and COA's accounting 
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rules and regulations. 
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F. Prescribed post-hospitalization, rehabilitation services, aftercare program, mental and 
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psychosocial support. 
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G. All hospital bills including professional fees, provided that the expenses for the 
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professional fees shall not exceed 50% of the approved amount for medical assistance. 
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SECTION  9.  LETTERS  OF  GUARANTEE  FROM  THE  GOVERNMENT  AS 
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MECHANISM OF PAYMENT. – Both private and public hospitals or health facilities shall 
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receive letters of guarantee from the government as payment for the indigent or financially 
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incapacitated patients. Hospitals or health facilities, whether private or public, shall accept the 
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said letters of guarantee as payment by the said patient, and no such hospital or health facility 
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shall refuse to accept the said letter of guarantee. Provided, that the government, through the 
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responsible agency, such as the DOH, or its authorized line agency, office, unit, or 
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instrumentality, shall actually remit payment to the hospital or health facility that provided 
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medical care not later than fifteen (15) days from the receipt of such letter guarantee. 
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SECTION 10. ORDER OF CHARGING. – The MAIP Program funds shall primarily cover the 
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essential and life-saving medicine, total charges, fees, services and other medical products, 
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provided that coverage from other funding sources for medical assistance has already been 
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deducted in harmony with the Joint Administrative Order No. 2018-0001 of the Department of 
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Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health 
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Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), 
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entitled "Streamlining Access to Medical Assistance Funds of the Government and its 
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amendments. 
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SECTION 11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COVERAGE – The following are the terms 
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and conditions of access to and implementation of coverage under the MAIP Programs funds: 
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A. MAIP Program beneficiaries shall be admitted to basic or non-private ward 
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accommodation and may be admitted to the next available private accommodation only 
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on the following conditions: 
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1. Lack of basic or non-private ward accommodation as certified by the hospital 
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2. Emergency cases. 
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3. Cases involving communicable diseases requiring isolation including Public 
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Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) 
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4. Cases requiring intensive care; and 
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5. Chronic and catastrophic cases requiring prolonged admission. 
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B. Patients confined in non-basic ward accommodation who requests medical assistance 
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may be covered by MAIP Program funds upon the submission of documents, subject to 
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the availability of funds. 
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C. MAIP Program funds shall be valid from the date of issuance until December 31 of the 
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same year of issuance except for MAIP Program funds transferred to LGU hospitals 
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which have a validity period based on pertinent National Budget Circulars applicable to 
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the period. 
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D. Not more than 1% of the total MAIP Program funds shall be used for administrative 
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expenses which shall be controlled and monitored by the DOH Central Office. 
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SECTION 12. PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT/PRIVATE HEALTH FACILITY 
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OR HOSPITAL – Subject to the provisions of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the CHO 
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may enter into a Memorandum of Agreement or partnership agreements with government or 
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private hospitals or health facilities, to enable more access to health and medical services for 
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more indigent or financially-challenged patients. The MOA or contractual/partnership or joint 
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venture agreement shall be cleared by the DOH Legal Service or the Legal Section/unit under 
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the Management Support Services Division of the CHO, as the case may be. 
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SECTION 13. FUND AUTHORIZATION – The following are the officials authorized to approve 
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funds, subject to corresponding amounts or limits of authority: 
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A. For the Health Facilities – the Chief of Hospital of LGU hospitals or selected private 
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health facilities or his/her duly authorized representative; Chief of Hospital, Medical 
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Center Chief, Medical Director, or his or her duly-authorized representative. 
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B. For the DOH – CHO Director, Undersecretary or Head Executive Assistant, Secretary 
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of Health or designated Chief of Staff. 
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SECTION 14. RECORDING AND REPORTING - 
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A. Government/private health facilities or hospitals shall submit a monthly fund utilization 
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report to the CHD concerned. DOH Hospitals shall submit said report directly to the 
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MPO. Concerns and issues encountered in the implementation of the Program shall 
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also be included in the report. 
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B. The CHO shall submit to the MPO a Monthly Summary Report on the status of the 
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implementation of the MAIP Program, including information on the number of patients 
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served, type of assistance provided and the actual amount utilized. 
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C. The reports shall be subject to validation by the MPO. 
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D. The MPO shall submit to the Administrative and Financial Management Team (AFMT), 
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a Quarterly Summary of the Fund Utilization Reports and the status of the MAIP 
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Program. 
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E. The MPO through the AFMT shall provide the Secretary of Health a monthly report of 
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the number of indigent and financially incapacitated patients assisted under the MAIP 
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Program. 
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SECTION 15. MONITORING AND EVALUATION – A team from the DOH Central Office/CHDs 
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shall conduct a quarterly monitoring and evaluation of hospitals using the MAIP Program 
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monitoring tool. A periodic Program Implementation Review shall be conducted by the 
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MPO/CHDs to assess the impact of the Program. The Internal Audit Service of the DOH may 
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conduct a random audit in the CHDs and partner health facilities and hospitals. 
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SECTION 16. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. – The Department of Health, through its 
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Administrative and Financial Management Team (AFMT) shall be responsible for overseeing 
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the overall implementation of the Program, reviewing and authorizing release of funds, provision 
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of technical direction to the Program. 
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1) The Department of Health under its line offices and units shall be responsible for: 
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a. The Center for Health Development shall manage allocated funds and facilitates 
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efficient transfer of funds to partner health facility or hospital under their 
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jurisdiction, designate CHD Coordinator who shall primarily handle program 
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implementation and ensure administrative support, submit periodic reports, and 
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conduct regular monitoring and evaluation, review, request and authorize 
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release of funds, reporting suspected abuse or mishandling funds to the MPO, 
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and recommend the appropriate course of action. 
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b. The Malasakit Program Office shall facilitate policy development and formulate 
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monitoring tool for the implementation and evaluation of the MAIP Program, 
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oversee implementation of the MAIP Program and fund utilization in the 
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Malasakit Centers, consolidate reports, report any suspected abuse or 
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mishandling of funds. 
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c. The Field Implementation and Coordination Team shall be responsible for 
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ensuring smooth coordination between CHDs and DOH Hospitals, establishing 
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linkages for implementation of the program, ensuring that referral of MAIP- 
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related assistance requests received at the DOH Central Office is forwarded to 
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the MPO or concerned CHD. 
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d. The Financial Management Service team shall provide technical assistance on 
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matters of financial management, facilitate timely transfer or sub-allotment of 
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funds to CHD and health facilities in coordination with the MPO, monitoring of 
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fund utilization reports. 
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2) The Government/Private Health Facility shall be responsible for: assessing and 
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screening eligibility of all patients, facilitate provision of quality medical assistance and 
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ensure the compassionate delivery of necessary services to the MAIP Program 
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beneficiary, ensuring monthly reporting of fund utilization and program implementation 
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reports, ensuring administrative support for the effective implementation of the program, 
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report any suspected abuse or mishandling of funds to the MPO, facilitate issuance of 
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internal policy to support implementation of the MAIP Program. 
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SECTION 17. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – Within sixty (60) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and other concerned line agencies, offices, or units, 
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instrumentalities and sectors, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations as may 
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be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 18. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If any part of this Act shall be held unconstitutional 
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or invalid, other parts not otherwise affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
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SECTION 19. REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders, or ordinances 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 20. EFFECTIVITY. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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