SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) . .
Second Regular Session ) 18 ty 15 "o/

SENATE RECs J a
S. B. No._1801

Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF INTEREST
AND/OR PENALTY CHARGES ON UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS
AND MEDICAL EXPENSES OF PATIENTS WHO EARN
MINIMUM WAGE OR LESS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 10 of the Constitution provides that the State
shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.
Section 15 of the same Article provides that the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.

It is in line with these constitutional mandates that Congress
enacted Republic Act No. 9439, or “An Act Prohibiting the Detention of
Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics on the Ground of Nonpayment
of Hospital Bills or Medical Expenses.” While this groundbreaking law
prohibits the unconscionable practice of detaining patients who are
unable to settle their medical expenses, it does not address another
common concern: the imposition of hefty penalties or interest on unpaid
hospital bills and medical expenses. These additional burdens naturally
affect less-privileged patients more, since they are the ones who are
unable to immediately settle their medical bills and expenses.

For this reason, this bill proposes to prohibit the imposition of any
additional interest and penalty charges on unpaid hospital bills and
medical expenses for one year from the patient’s discharge. Patients—or
their parents or legal guardians, in the case of minor patients—will have


one year to fully settle their medical expenses before they can be
charged for interest or penalties. This prohibition shall benefit only those
patients who earn minimum wage or less.

In view of the foregoing, speedy passage of this measure is

earnestly sought.
AQUILINO “KOKO” PIMENTEL III



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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

Second Regular Session ) 18 MAY 15 [P3:29

SENATE Rite. ys
S. B. No. 1801

Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF INTEREST
AND/OR PENALTY CHARGES ON UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS
AND MEDICAL EXPENSES OF PATIENTS WHO EARN
MINIMUM WAGE OR LESS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State
to protect and promote the right to health of the people.

SEC. 2. Prohibition on Interest and/or Penalty Charges on
Unpaid Hospital Bills or Medical Expenses. — It shall be unlawful for
any hospital or medical clinic in the country to charge interest or impose
other penalties on unpaid hospital bills and medical expenses of patients
who earn minimum wage or less, for one year from the date of
discharge.

This prohibition shall likewise apply to the unpaid hospital bills
and medical expenses of minor patients whose parents or legal guardians
earn minimum wage or less.

Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic
responsible for billing who violates the provisions of this Act shall be
punished by a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos
(PhP20,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos
(PhP50,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not
more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the
discretion of the proper court.

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SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department
of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from effectivity of
this Act.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
tules and regulations, and issuances inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately upon
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,

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