Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
15" CONGRESS

HOUSE BILL No._3560

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo
Lone District of Pasig City

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

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.”

Given the high costs of availing healthcare services and due to lack of
information, most of the public opts to do home medication. This happens without
them knowing that there are quality services and yet reasonable charges being
imposed by some healthcare facilities. If the prices of these services are readily
accessible to the public, it would encourage them to at least compare, assess
and consider getting professional medication and care.

Knowing the prices in advance would also enable the public to make an
intelligent estimate of the medical bills that they would incur once they get
admitted and avoid surprises of the huge amount they have to pay once the
patient bills out.

Through the passage of this Bill, the public is empowered to choose the
healthcare facility where they would avail medical services especially during
times of economic downturn and ultimately, achieve the national goal of
establishing a responsible and efficient healthcare delivery.

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

PP

HON. ROMAN T. ROMULO


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

15" CONGRESS
HOUSE BILL NO._3560

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo
Lone District of Pasig City

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.”

Section 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 obtain accurate and adequate information
that would facilitate and guide him in making a conscious choice of healthcare
facility.

Section 3. Definition of Terms — For the purposes of this Act, the term:

3.1 ‘Diagnostic And Laboratory Clinics" means 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 and injury.

3.2 “Healthcare Services” means 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.

For the purposes of this Act, the term healthcare services shall 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

3.3 “Healthcare Facilities” means the hospitals, ambulatory surgical
centers, diagnostic and laboratory clinics, medical clinics and/or facilities which
provide healthcare services, as defined under this Act, 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.

3.4 “Incidental expenses” means 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

3.5 “Medical Bill” means costs of healthcare services rendered by the
healthcare facility including incidental expenses and medical supplies charged to
the patient.

3.6 “Medical Equipment and Technology” means the equipment designed
to aid in providing healthcare services.

3.7 “Medical Supplies” means all healthcare materials and articles used
for providing healthcare services and can be charged in the medical bill

3.8 “Patient” means a person seeking admission or who is admitted and
availed of healthcare services in a healthcare facility.

3.9 “Room and amenities” means an occupancy room or a ward room
where a patient is admitted for healthcare services, including detailed list of its
amenities.

Section 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 pricelist 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 or used by the patient with their corresponding
prices charged to the patient

Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be unlawful

Section 5. 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
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) nor more than
fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) per instance of violation and suspension or
revocation of license to operate such healthcare facility; Provided, that its officers
directly responsible for the violation shall suffer the penalty of 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, if applicable, and by imprisonment of not less than
six (6) months nor more than one (1) year or both fine and imprisonment at the


discretion of the Court: and Provided, further that if the guilty party is an alien, he
shall be ipso facto deported after service of sentence without need of further
proceedings. The Secretary of Health shall have the authority to impose the
administrative fines and penalties, and administrative sanctions provided herein
including suspension or revocation of license to operate such healthcare facility.

b) A second violation under this paragraph shall also carry with it the penalty of
revocation of license to operate.

Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, in coordination with the
Department of Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate the rules and
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act

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

Section 8. Separability Clause - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect

Section 9. Repealing Clause — All other laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations and administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved.