Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 8870

Introduced by Representatives
MARCELINO C. LIBANAN and HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

With the Philippines ensuring continuous access to Universal Health Care (UHC)
Coverage to all Filipinos, the national government Proactively engages in various
Programs to ensure that the increasing demand for cheaper and affordable healthcare
is sought. 2022 data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that
Current Health Expenditure (CHE) for 2021 is at 1.09 trillion pesos, higher than the
917.15 billion pesos that was recorded by the same agency in 2020. Meanwhile, 2019
data of the PSA reveal that 53.9% of medical cost is shouldered through out-of-pocket
means by patients. This strengthens the belief that the cost of healthcare could lead
to financial bankruptcy, if no intervention is found.

To alleviate this problem, the Department of Health launched its flagship program -
Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) - a program that would allow the
government to shoulder healthcare costs of indigent Filipino patients in public hospitals
and in some instances, even in private health facilities. The success of this program
led to its continued implementation and widened assistance to all indigent patients all
over the country. With the passage of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, the program
was strengthened to ensure that there are enough support staff to cater to indigent
Patients in public hospitals who are in need of financial, medical, and other necessary
support that the government could provide for the patients and their families.

This bill seeks to institutionalize the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program
of the Department of Health. Once this bill is passed into law, it will guarantee that the
yearly general appropriations will include a provision for the Medical Assistance to
Indigent and financially incapacitated Patients. Aside from this, it places, in clear
standards, the requirements that a patient must provide to be eligible for assistance
by the national government.

In vie \e foregoing, immediate passage of the measure is sought.

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MAR‘ BANAN van cs ‘OPHER M. ONGCHUAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8870

Introduced by Honorable Representatives
MARCELINO C. LIBANAN and HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT AND
FINANCIALLY INCAPABLE PATIENTS PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Medical Assistance to
Indigent and Financially Incapable Patients (MAIP) Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Its the declared policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. It shall improve the health care services
and ensure access to and efficiency in the process of availing the medical assistance
program to indigent patients to defray their medical needs.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms are defined
as follows:

a.) Medical Assistance refers to assistance to help shoulder hospitalization
expenses, cost of medicines, other medical treatments or procedures, or
professional fees.

b.) MAIP Beneficiary refers to an indigent or financially incapacitated patient
who is eligible to receive medical assistance.

c.) Indigent patient refers to patient who has no visible means of income, or
whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his/her family, as assessed
by the medical social worker of the health facility

4.) Financially incapacitated patient refers to a patient who is not classified as in
indigent but who demonstrates clear inability to pay or spend for necessary
expenditures for one’s medical treatment, such as patients with catastrophic
illness or any illness, which is life threatening and requires prolonged
hospitalization, extremely expensive therapies or other special but essential
care that would deplete one’s financial resources, as assessed and certified
by the Medical Social Worker (MSW).

e.) Health Facility refers to government and partner private hospitals licensed by


the Department of Health (DOH) and/or accredited by the PhilHealth, with the
capacity to subsidize medical assistance expenses and which can comply
with the documentary/reportorial requirements as may be required by the
DOH

SEC. 4. The Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients
Program — The DOH shall establish the Medical Assistance to Indigent and
Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIP) Program that shall provide support for
drugs, medicines, medical/surgical operations, medical/orthopedic devices, physical
and psychological therapies, dental services (except those that are for aesthetic
purposes and not medically indicated) or other medically related needs prescribed by
the licensed physicians of a health facility for in-patients, out-patients, and patients
catered through in facility, off — site, mobile or digital means by the licensed DOH
Facility.

The amount of the medical assistance to be provided to the MAIP beneficiary
shall be based on the assessment and recommendation of the Medical Social Worker
or authorized personnel, duly approved by the authorized official of the DOH.

SEC. 5. Conditions for Eligibility to Receive Medical Assistance. — All MAIP
Beneficiaries shall be eligible for medical assistance under this Act subject to
presentation of documents, as may be determined by the DOH, to support their
eligibility. Provided that, the DOH shall simplify the procedure of availing the benefits
of this Act to ensure the speedy release of the medical assistance.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOH shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to implement this Act.

Provided, that the program shall be under the direct control and supervision by the
Secretary of Health in coordination with its officials in the Regional Offices or Center
for Health Development (CHD).

Further, Malasakit Centers created under Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known
as the “Malasakit Centers Act,” shall continue to facilitate the provision of medical
assistance under the Program in all Department Hospitals and National Government
Hospitals, without prejudice to their existing functions and the establishment of
additional MAIP-Accredited Health Facilities in geographical areas without Malasakit
Centers. Further, all Malasakit Centers and CHDs shall be adequately staffed with
Program Coordinators, Medical Social Workers, and Support Staff.

Finally, the Department is hereby authorized to create the required plantilla and
staffing patter necessary for the implementation of this Act in coordination with the
Department of Budget and Management and Civil Service Commission.

SEC. 7. Report of the Program. — The Secretary of Health shall annually publish a
full report of the program covering its implementation. The report shall be submitted to
the President, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives

SEC. 8. Transparency Program. — The Department shall, every quarter, post an
update on its website a report of financial disclosures and information about the
program's beneficiaries based on geographical area, social, economic, and cultural
circumstances. Provided, that the transparency program is aligned with the Data


Privacy Act of 2012.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law
and thereafter.

SEC. 10. Saving Clause. - This Act does not affect rights, duties, and privileges that
are vested, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its
effective date.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its publication in
the official Gazette.

Approved,