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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._1366

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION
(PHILHEALTH) TO COVER ALL ESSENTIAL MATERNITY CARE RELATED
EXPENSES OF INDIGENT AND FINANCIALLY INAPACITATED PATIENTS.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or commonly known as “PhilHealth” was
established to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable and accessible health
care services for all citizens of the Philippines. As the national health insurer, it serves as an

avenue to help our indigent patients in availing medical services.

In 2011, the “No Balance Billing (NBB)” Policy was initially introduced by PhilHealth
which aimed to cover all hospital related expenses of all its members. In December 2024,
PhilHealth announced that it has approved a higher coverage for patients such as the benefit of
kidney transplant which has been raised from P600,000.00 to P800,000.00-P2,000,000.00;
angioplasty from P30,000.00 to PS30,000.00 among others.

Recently, reports regarding the PhilHealth’s One Hundred Forty-Four Billion Pesos
(P144,000,000,000.00) surplus. and Two Hundred Fighty-One Billion Pesos


(P281,000,000,000.00) reserve according to PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Fund

Management Renato Limsiaco, Jr., has been in the news headlines’.

However, despite the approved increase in the benefits and coverage of PhilHealth in
several categories and types of sickness and its massive reserve funds, it failed to increase a
necessary and major health care component, which is the maternity care benefits. Currently,
the national health insurer only covers Six Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P6,500.00) up to
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) depending on the type of delivery®. This amount in
today’s time is no longer adequate to match the expenses of birth delivery, including pre and
post-natal health care services.

Thus, this measure seeks to mandate the PhilHealth to mandatorily cover all essential
maternity related care expenses of patients especially those indigents and financially
incapacitated which will fortify the “No Balance Billing” Policy of the government as
expressed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr..

This is in line with Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution which provides “The
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness

i

HON. JOSE Gf J. TEVES, JR.
Representative, TGP Party-List

among them”.

* https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/932504 /despite-zero-gov-t-subsidy-philhealth-says-
funds-sufficient-to-expand-benefits/story/
2 https://www.phithealth.gov.ph/news/2022/women_benefits.pdf


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1366

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSE “BONG” J. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION
(PHILHEALTH) TO COVER ALL ESSENTIAL MATERNITY CARE RELATED
EXPENSES OF INDIGENT AND FINANCIALLY INAPACITATED PATIENTS.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This law shall be known as the “PhilHealth Maternity

Care Package for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Under Section 15, Article II of the 1987
Constitution, the State shall protect and advance the right to health of the people by ensuring
access to medical services. It is hereby declared as policy of the State to provide expanded
maternity care benefits to all mothers especially to indigent and financially incapacitated

patients.

SEC. 3. Coverage. — All indigent and financially incapacitated patients who are
pregnant or expectant mothers as identified by the Department of Health or Department of
Social Welfare and Development are covered in this Act.

In addition, all private and public hospitals, clinics, health care institutions throughout

the country shall be covered in this Act.


SEC. 4, PhilHealth Maternity Care Package. — the Philippine Health Insurance

Corporation or commonly known as “PhilHealth” is hereby mandated to cover, without
exception, all essential matemity related expenses of indigent and financially incapacitated
patients who are members of the PhilHealth.
‘The coverage shall include but not limited to the following benefits:
a) Antenatal care;
b) Normal delivery;
©) Cesarean section (C-Section);

d) Newborn care.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations — All implementing rules and
regulations necessary to enforce this Act must be issued and shall take effect not later than
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 6, Separability Clause — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any of the provisions hereof not

affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
SEC. 7, Repealing Clause — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to any of the provisions

of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,