EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1672
T»ME¥
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
No less than the 1987 Constitution recognizes the right to health of every 
Filipino and mandates that the State shall instill health consciousness among its 
people. In fulfillment of this mandate. Congress passed Republic Act No. 11223 
otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act on February 20, 2019. Among the 
objectives of the Universal Health Care Act is to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed 
equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services and 
protected against financial risk.
Recently, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) identified 
certain provisions in the law which hinders the flexibility in the determination, fixing 
and reduction of published case rates/packages. To address this, the proposed 
measure seeks to amend Sections 9 and 34 of the Universal Health Care Act to enable 
PhilHealth to adjust the packages subject to the review, assessment, and 
recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council.
As our country continues to battle the pervasive effects of the COVID-19 
pandemic, all the more should the benefits of the Universal Health Care Act continually 
pour towards our marginalized citizens.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
t^0WNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1672
55 
E-FILED
|W 
10:36 am
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS 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:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care
2 
Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
3 
"Sec. 9. Entitlement to Benefits. - Every member shall be granted
4 
immediate eligibility for health benefit package under the Program:
5 
Provided, That PhilHealth Identification Card shall not be required in
6 
the availment of any health service: Provided, further. That no co-
7 
payment shall be charged for services rendered in basic or ward
8 
accommodation: Provided, furthermore. That co-payments and co-
9 
insurance for amenities in public hospitals shall be regulated by the
10 
DOH and PhilHealth: Provided, [fMy] FURTHERMORE, That the
11 
[eurrcnt] EXISTING PhilHealth [package] COVERAGE for
12 
members shall not be reduced: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT THE
13 
AMOUNTS UNDER EACH BENEFIT PACKAGE SHALL BE
14 
SUBJECT TO THE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF THE
15 
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT COUNCIL PURSUANT
16 
TO SECTION 34 OF THIS ACT."
17 
SEC. 2. Section 34 of Republic Act No. 11223 is hereby amended to read as
18 
follows:


1 
"Sec. 34. Health Technology Assessment (HTA). -
2 
(a) XXX.
3 
(b) XXX.
4 
(c) The HTAC, to be composed of health experts, shall be created
5 
within the DOH and supported by a Secretariat and a Technical
6 
Unit for Policy, Planning and Evaluation with evidence generation
7 
and validation capacity. The HTAC shall: (1) facilitate provision
8 
of financing and/or coverage recommendations on health
9 
technologies to be financed by DOH and PhilHealth; (2) oversee
10 
and coordinate the HTA process within DOH and PhilHealth; and
11 
(3) review and assess existing DOH and PhilHealth benefit
12 
packages AND RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE AND
13 
REASONABLE AMOUNTS PER PACKAGE BASED ON
14 
PREVAILING TECHNOLOGIES AND/OR TREATMENT.
15 
Within five (5) years after the establishment and effective
16 
operation of the HTAC, it shall transition into an independent entity
17 
separate from the DOH, attached to DOST.
18 
(d)xxx.
19 
(e)xxx."
20 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
21 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
22 
force and effect.
23 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
24 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
25 
repealed or modified accordingly
26 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of the general circulation.
Approved,