egunlisetdh igen
HOUSE OF

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._"* 6395

Introduced by HONORABLE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO

AN ACT AUTHORIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO ESTABLISH

ADEQUATE PRIMARY CARE NETWORKS IN SUPPORT OF REPUBLIC

ACT NO. 11223, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “UNIVERSAL HEALTH
CARE ACT”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act was signed into
law with the aim of providing all Filipinos with access to quality,
comprehensive, and affordable health care services. One of the landmark
features in RA 11223 is the requirement for every Filipino to be registered to
a primary care provider, who shall act as the initial and continuing point of
contact and facilitate effective navigation through the health care delivery
system.

According to studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), if primary
care providers can effectively act as gatekeepers and facilitate referrals to
various health care providers, patients can better manage their course of
treatment and reduce costs. However, in its 2018 review, the WHO noted that
such mechanisms are currently still insufficient in the Philippine health care
system, and there are clear disparities in supply capacity across different
areas of the country. Investments in infrastructure and human resources are
needed to close these gaps and improve health outcomes.

This bill seeks to equip local government units (LGUs) in establishing
adequate primary care provider networks in their respective jurisdictions, in
support of the objective of universal health care. Although public funds may
be made available for this purpose by RA 11223, LGUs are stifled by the
limitation on personnel services spending provided in Republic Act No. 7160
or the Local Government Code of 1991. This bill proposes to exempt the
remuneration and incentives of certified primary care providers from the
ceiling on personnel services spending, in order to allow LGUs to allocate


sufficient funds for the deployment of qualified primary care providers in their
respective jurisdictions.

In order to systematically evaluate supply gaps in the provision of primary
care, this bill also mandates the DOH to develop standards for an adequate
primary care provider network, in accordance with international best
practices. An assessment of LGUs based on such standards will provide a
clear roadmap for the government's roll out of primary care services. To help
achieve network adequacy, this bill also provides for the development of
capacity building programs that focus on competencies for primary care.

In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly

sought.
(Hh

STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO
Representative
Second District, Marikina City


ewaneune

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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8395

Introduced by HONORABLE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO

AN ACT AUTHORIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO ESTABLISH
ADEQUATE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER NETWORKS IN SUPPORT OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “UNIVERSAL
HEALTH CARE ACT”

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Primary Care Network
Adequacy Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
that every Filipino be afforded a primary care provider. The State is to develop
and sustain an adequate primary care provider network that will fully support
the goals of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health
Care Act.”

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Primary care providers shall include the following:
i. Primary care worker refers to a health care worker, with defined
competencies, who may be a health professional or community
health worker/volunteer, certified by the Department of Health
(DOH) or any health institution that is licensed and certified by the
DOH, to provide primary care services in support of the Universal
Health Care Act.
ii. Primary care facility refers to the institution that primarily delivers
primary care services which shall be licensed or registered by the
DOH.


b. Primary care provider network refers to a coordinated group of public,
private, or mixed primary care providers within a health care system or
health care provider network.

c. Primary care network adequacy refers to the sufficient ability and capacity
of a primary care provider network to deliver essential primary care
services.

SECTION 4. Targets for Primary Care Network Adequacy. - The DOH shall
develop standards and targets for primary care network adequacy, at the
provider level and network level, in accordance with global standards and local
conditions.

In relation with these standards, the DOH, with the Civil Service Commission
(CSC), shall also formulate the appropriate job description and requirements for
each type of primary care provider. The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust the
functions of each type of primary care provider.

SECTION 5. Comprehensive Plan for Primary Care Network Adequacy. ~ All local
government units (LGUs) shall adopt the targets relating to primary care network
adequacy in all of their plans and programs, with technical assistance from the
DOH.

The LGUs shall regularly monitor data relevant to primary care network
adequacy for assessment by the DOH, and according to guidelines by the same.
The DOH shall provide Congress, through the House Committee on Health and
the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, an annual report detailing
all primary care network adequacy targets and the current status of each LGU,
including recommendations in cases of shortfalls on adequacy targets.

SECTION 6. Capacity Building for Primary Care. - The DOH, in cooperation with
the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, Professional Regulation Commission, LGUs, medical
associations and other health care professional organizations, shall develop and
plan the expansion of degree and training programs geared towards producing
competent primary care workers, especially for underserved areas.

SECTION 7. Financing for Primary Care Network Adequacy. - Authority is hereby
granted to heads of LGUs to finance the requirements for an adequate primary
care provider network, including but not limited to hiring, remuneration,
incentives, capacity building, and monitoring, through the Special Health Fund
in accordance with Republic Act No. 11223.

‘The remuneration and incentives of certified primary care providers that are
deployed for purposes of implementing the Universal Health Care Act shall be
determined by the CSC in accordance with relevant laws, and shall not be


subject to the ceiling on personnel services spending as provided in Republic Act
No. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991.” For purposes of this Act,
personnel services refers to the appropriations for the payment of salaries, wages
and other compensation of permanent, temporary, contractual, and casual
employees of the LGU.

LGUs shall endeavor to provide incentives to primary care providers on the basis
of performance-based and close-end targets.

SECTION 8. Validity of the Special Health Fund. - All monies in the Special Health
Fund, regardless of fund source, shall be available to the LGU for obligation and
disbursement until full expended.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in consultation
with the Department of Budget and Management, shall formulate the
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days after its
approval.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provision hereof not affected shall
continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,