Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.___________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ANTONIO T. ALBANO and 
RODOLFO B. ALBANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the past decade, Rehabilitation Medicine as a field of specialization  
experienced growth in all aspects. The number of trainees, graduates, and 
certified diplomats and fellows has increased tremendously. There has also 
been a markedly fast pace at which rehabilitation centers have sprouted 
throughout the country, all with the noble intent of delivering expert 
rehabilitative 
care 
to 
Filipinos 
suffering 
from 
neuromuscoskeletal, 
cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other system disorders. 
However, many of these rehabilitation centers are not headed by 
physiatrists ( medical specialists who trained a minimum of three (3) years in 
Rehabilitation Medicine) but by other medical and allied health professionals. 
By the nature of their training, physiatrists are in the best position to head 
rehabilitation centers and supervise the allied rehabilitative  professionals: 
physical therapist, occupational therapists, speech therapist, orthotists, and 
prosthetists. 
In the medical field, it is the physiatrist who is the specialist in medical 
rehabilitation and who is trained to evaluate and treat patients with physical 
disabilities from the rehabilitation standpoint, and to manage and administer 
July 1, 2022
9:56 am
791


Rehabilitation Medicine departments, centers, clinics or other similar 
facilities. 
It is the objective of this proposed Rehabilitation Medicine Act to set 
standards for the training and practice of Rehabilitation Medicine as well as 
technical and operational standards for rehabilitation centers to enable them 
to function at the highest level of standards as headed and supervised by duly 
trained and certified physiatrists. This way, the interests of the Filipino 
patients who seek treatment from these centers are fully protected. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
       REP. ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 


Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.__________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR STANDARDS FOR THE PRACTICE OF 
REHABILITATION MEDICINE AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be in 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
1 
Rehabilitation Standards Act of 2019” 
2 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to protect 
3 
and promote the right to health of the people by making the delivery of expert 
4 
rehabilitative care to Filipinos suffering from neuromusculoskeletal, 
5 
cardiovascular, pulmonary and other system disorders which produce 
6 
temporary or permanent disability accessible, effective and affordable.   
7 
Toward this end, standards for the effective practice of Rehabilitation 
8 
Medicine and for the establishment, management and operations of 
9 
rehabilitation facilities are hereby established. 
10 
SEC. 3. – Definitions. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
11 
mean: 
12 
a. Rehabilitation Medicine – the branch of medicine which deals with
13 
the 
prevention, 
diagnosis, 
treatment 
and 
rehabilitation 
of
14 
neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and other system
15 
791


disorders which produce temporary or permanent disability in 
1 
patients as well as the performance of different diagnostic 
2 
procedures,  including, but not limited to, electromyography and 
3 
other electrodiagnostic techniques. It also involves specialized 
4 
medical care and training of patients with loss of any function so 
5 
that they may obtain or be able to function to their maximum 
6 
potential, physically, psychologically, socially and vocationally, 
7 
providing special attention and care to prevent complications or 
8 
deterioration, and to assist in physiologic adaptation of disability. In 
9 
addition, the practice of Rehabilitation Medicine uses agents such 
10 
as heat, light, water, electricity, therapeutic exercise and mechanical 
11 
agents in its treatment armamentarium. 
12 
b. Medical Rehabilitation – the process of helping a person reach the
13 
fullest physical, psychological, social, vocational and educational
14 
potential consistent with his or her physiologic or anatomic
15 
impairments, environmental limitations and life plans.
16 
c. Physiatrist – a physician who is licensed and duly registered with
17 
the Professional Regulation Commission and who completed three
18 
(3) years of residency training in Rehabilitation Medicine in a
19 
Philippine 
Board 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine-accredited 
training 
20 
institution. 
21 
d. Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) – a non-stock,
22 
non- profit corporation, duly recognized by the Professional
23 
Regulation Commission and the Philippine Medical Association
24 
composed of Board Certified Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists
25 
tasked with accrediting and evaluating training institutions
26 
specializing in Rehabilitation Medicine, and certifying graduates of
27 
these training institutions.
28 
e. Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner/Psychiatrist – a licensed
29 
physician who completed a residency training program in
30 
Rehabilitation Medicine in a Philippine Board of Rehabilitation
31 
Medicine (PBRM) accredited training institution. They shall be
32 
qualified by the PBRM as:
33 


A) Board Eligible Physiatrist – refers to one who completed residency 
1 
training in a PBRM-accredited residency training program but 
2 
who has not successfully completed the specialty board 
3 
examination. 
4 
B) Board Certified (Diplomate) – refers to those have passed Part I 
5 
(written) and Part II (oral) of the Diplomate Board Examination 
6 
given by the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM). 
7 
f. Rehabilitation Medicine Center/Facility/Unit - any facility that 
8 
renders services for the rehabilitation of physical disabilities and 
9 
which may be hospital-based of free-standing.  
10 
g. Rehabilitation Medicine Team – a group of medical and allied health 
11 
professionals concerned with the medical rehabilitation of patients 
12 
with physical disabilities. The team is headed by a physiatrist and is 
13 
composed of, but not limited to, the following: 
14 
1. Physical Therapists 
15 
2. Occupational Therapists 
16 
3. Prosthetists and Orthotists 
17 
4. Rehabilitation Nurses 
18 
5. Speech Pathologists 
19 
6. Social Workers 
20 
7. Vocational Counselors 
21 
8. Recreational Therapists 
22 
SEC. 4. Scope of Practice. – The practice of Rehabilitation Medicine 
23 
includes: 
24 
a. Professional services related to the care of an individual patient, 
25 
rendered either as a physician primarily responsible for individual 
26 
patient care or as a consultant to another physician, and consists 
27 
of: 
28 
 
29 
1. History taking, examination of patients, performance of specific 
30 
diagnostic procedures for the purpose of establishing diagnosis 
31 


and evaluation of disability, impairment, functional capacity and 
1 
potential for rehabilitation; 
2 
2. Prescription and rendering of appropriate medical treatment 
3 
which may include any or all aspects or physical medicine as well 
4 
as rehabilitative measures, including but not limited to physical 
5 
therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and orthotic and 
6 
prosthetic services. 
7 
3. Follow-up 
examination 
of 
patients in 
offices, 
hospitals, 
8 
rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities or home for 
9 
purposes of re-evaluation and treatment modifications; 
10 
4. Appropriate consultation with other medical specialists; 
11 
5. Counseling and conference with non-physician health care 
12 
professionals or family concerning conduct of patient’s care or 
13 
patient’s progress; and  
14 
6. Examination of patient’s records, preparation of reports, 
15 
designing, planning, and implementation of health programs for 
16 
the maintenance of health and prevention of disability; and 
17 
correspondence as well as appearance in court or providing 
18 
testimony pertaining to a patient.  
19 
 
20 
b. Professional services related to the administration of rehabilitation 
21 
facilities or units consist of : 
22 
1. Professional general supervision of rehabilitation services in  a 
23 
hospital-based rehabilitation center or unit or any other free 
24 
standing units that render limited rehabilitation services, 
25 
convalescent home and private homes, for quality assurance and 
26 
appropriate utilization of services; 
27 
2. Planning, establishment and management of facilities, equipment 
28 
and personnel for the performance of functions and activities of 
29 
a rehabilitation department or unit, or any other free standing 
30 
unit that render limited rehabilitation services, convalescent 
31 
home and private homes, for quality assurance and appropriate 
32 
utilization of services; 
33 


3. Maintenance of complete and accurate records and statistics;  
1 
4. Education of physicians and allied health care professionals in 
2 
Rehabilitation Medicine, both local and foreign, for programs 
3 
related to Rehabilitation Medicine; 
4 
5. Education of the public on health care issues pertaining to 
5 
Rehabilitation Medicine through research and medical education; 
6 
6. Promoting professional development of Rehabilitation Medicine 
7 
through research and medical education; 
8 
7. Designing, planning and implementing of health programs for 
9 
maintenance of health and prevention of disability; 
10 
8. Establishing linkages with government and non-government 
11 
agencies, both local and foreign, for programs related to 
12 
Rehabilitation Medicine; 
13 
9. Promotion of the team approach among medical and allied 
14 
medical health care professionals in the holistic care of patients; 
15 
and  
16 
10. 
Setting standards for compensation of Rehabilitation 
17 
Medicine services. 
18 
 
c. Guidelines for Practice in a Rehabilitation Medicine Facility: 
19 
1. Every patient shall be examined and diagnosed by a physiatrist. 
20 
The physiatrist recommends, prescribes and supervises an 
21 
individual treatment plan. The treatment plan and rehabilitation 
22 
program shall be regularly reviewed on a team basis. 
23 
2. Medications and various other therapies shall be prescribed by a 
24 
physiatrist. 
25 
3. The physiatrist has the primary responsibility of regularly 
26 
following-up on patients in his charge and modifying or 
27 
terminating treatment. 
28 
4. A physiatrist shall head the facility/unit and shall supervise the 
29 
delivery of rehabilitation medicine services rendered by other 
30 
members of the Rehabilitation Medicine team. In areas where 
31 


there is no physiatrist, a licensed physician shall head the facility 
1 
unit. 
2 
5. If a physicians is not competent to manage a patient, he shall 
3 
consult or refer to another physiatrist or physician who is 
4 
competent in the particular disease or condition requiring 
5 
treatment. 
6 
6. A Board certified physiatrist may head not more than three (3) 
7 
Rehabilitation Medicine facilities. In the absence of a Board 
8 
Certified physiatrist, a Board eligible physiatrist may head the 
9 
facility, provided that he conforms to the requirements of the 
10 
PBRM. 
11 
7. The physiatrist shall charge professional fees in accordance with 
12 
the standards of the Philippine Medical Association and the 
13 
Philippine Health Insurance System (PHILHEALTH). 
14 
8. The physiatrist shall conduct himself in a manner consistent with 
15 
the Code of Ethics of the Philippine Medical Association. 
16 
SEC. 5. Qualifications to Practice. – A physician who is a Board 
17 
Certified/Board Eligible physiatrist, of good moral character and is a member 
18 
of the Philippine Medical Association is qualified to practice Rehabilitation 
19 
Medicine. 
20 
SEC. 6. Accreditation and Certification. – This Act aims to establish 
21 
the standards for the practice of Rehabilitation Medicine and the certification 
22 
of Rehabilitation Medicine practitioners in order to ensure the highest quality 
23 
of professional rehabilitation service to the public and to the medical 
24 
community. 
25 
a. Accreditation of the Physiatrist 
26 
1. A 
Rehabilitation 
Medicine 
Practitioner 
eligible 
for 
27 
accreditation is a graduate of a Philippine Board of 
28 
Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) – accredited Rehabilitation 
29 
Medicine training institution and certified by the PBRM as: 
30 
1.a Board certified (Diplomate) 
31 
1.b Board Eligible 
32 


2. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner is duly recognized as 
1 
PBRM Board Certified upon compliance with and submission 
2 
of the following requirements; 
3 
2.a. Authenticated Professional Regulation Commission 
4 
(PRC) ID as a duly registered physician. 
5 
2.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM 
6 
accredited Rehabilitation Medicine training institution. 
7 
2.c. Certificate from the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation 
8 
Medicine (PBRM). 
9 
3. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner is duly recognized as 
10 
PBRM Board Eligible upon compliance with and submission of 
11 
the following requirements: 
12 
3.a. Authenticated Professional Regulation Commission 
13 
(PRC) ID as  duly registered physician 
14 
3.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM 
15 
accredited  Rehabilitation Medicine training institution. 
16 
3.c. Certificate of Eligibility from PBRM. 
17 
4. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner, who is duly recognized 
18 
as PBRM Board Eligible, must upgrade to a PBRM Board 
19 
Certified status within five (5) years after graduation from a 
20 
PBRM-accredited Rehabilitation Medicine training institution. 
21 
Forfeiture of this Board eligibility status is incumbent upon 
22 
review and evaluation of the PBRM Board of Governors. 
23 
b. Continuing Certification of Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists - A 
24 
Certified Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine, 
25 
in order to be duly recognized as a rehabilitation Medicine specialist, 
26 
must undergo re-certification every three (3) years through PBRM 
27 
accreditation. 
28 


          SEC. 7. – Technical Standards and Requirements for the 
1 
Registration, Operation and Maintenance of Rehabilitation Medicine 
2 
Facilities. – Technical standards and requirements for the registration, 
3 
operation and maintenance or rehabilitation medicine facilities shall apply to 
4 
all entities performing the activities and functions of Rehabilitation Medicine 
5 
facilities. These shall include the evaluation and treatment of all conditions 
6 
requiring rehabilitation of physical disabilities.   These standards and 
7 
requirements shall be formulated to protect and promote the health of the 
8 
people through the implementation of standards to ensure proper 
9 
management and adequate support for Rehabilitation Medicine facilities. 
10 
 
SEC. 8. Regulatory Authority – technical standards and requirements 
11 
for the registration and maintenance of Rehabilitation Medicine Facilities in 
12 
the Philippines shall be implemented and regulated by the Department of 
13 
Health-Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (DOH-BHFS). 
14 
 
SEC. 9. Classification of Facilities – Rehabilitation Medicine facilities 
15 
shall be classified according to the institutional character, and extent of 
16 
services offered. The bases for the classification of the different categories of 
17 
Rehabilitation facilities are: (1) Physiatrist qualification, (2) Allied Health 
18 
personnel staff qualification, (3) rehabilitation Medicine services available and 
19 
(4) Physical set-up and equipment. 
20 
a. Categories 
21 
1. As to institutional character, Rehabilitation Medicine facilities are 
22 
either hospital based (if operating within a hospital set-up) or free 
23 
standing (if operating on its own or part of a facility other than a 
24 
hospital). 
25 
2. As to the extent of services, Rehabilitation Medicine facilities 
26 
maybe primary, secondary , tertiary, or home-based. 
27 
3. As to function, a Rehabilitation Medicine facility may be utilized 
28 
for training services and research or for services alone.  
29 
4. As to services, a rehabilitation Medicine facility can also be either 
30 
general or specialized. 
31 
b. A primary rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following: 
32 


1. At least one (1) PBRM eligible physiatrist; 
1 
2. At least one (1) allied rehabilitation health professional;  
2 
3. Rehabilitation Medicine consultation and management with 
3 
physical therapy services; 
4 
4. Physical set-up; 
5 
5. Medical consultation area; 
6 
6. Treatment area to include at least an electro therapy device and 
7 
superficial heating modality, and ADFL training devices; 
8 
7. Gym area, to include parallel bars, mirror, weights and assistive 
9 
devices such as canes, crutches and walkers among others; 
10 
8. Evaluation tools; 
11 
9. Adequate utilities  such as water, electricity and consumables; 
12 
and 
13 
10. 
First Aid kit with basic CPR equipment 
14 
 
15 
c. A secondary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following: 
16 
1. At least one (1) PBRM Board certified Physiatrist; 
17 
2. At least one (1) licensed therapist and occupational therapist; 
18 
3. Rehabilitation Medicine consultation and management, physical 
19 
therapy and occupational therapy services; and 
20 
4. Compliance with the primary category set-up plus deep heating 
21 
modality, manual traction and therapeutic exercise equipment 
22 
for the gym area. 
23 
 
d. A tertiary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following: 
24 
1. At least one  (1) PBRM Board certified physiatrist; 
25 
2. At least one (1) licensed physical therapist and occupational 
26 
therapist; 
27 
3. Rehabilitation Medicine consultation and management, physical, 
28 
occupational therapy, prosthetist and orthotist in-house or 
29 
referral services, speech therapy in-house or referral services; 
30 
4. Compliance with the secondary category set-up and equipments, 
31 
with additional two (2) superficial healing modalities, medium 
32 


frequency modality, mechanized traction, ultraviolet or cold laser 
1 
intermittent compression unit, mechanized intermittent traction 
2 
and tilt table with additional gym equipment. 
3 
5. A Training/Service and Research facility, which shall fulfill all the
4 
requirements as a residency training institution in accordance
5 
with PBRM guidelines.
6 
6. A specialized facility which should cater to sub-specialty
7 
conditions in rehabilitation medicine  including cardiac, pain,
8 
pediatric, pulmonary, sports, among others, shall be a hospital-
9 
based facility with a multi-disciplinary set-up.
10 
SEC. 10. Management and Operation of a Rehabilitation Medicine 
11 
Facility. – A Rehabilitation Medicine Facility shall be headed by a 
12 
Rehabilitation Medicine specialist who is either a PBRM Certified or Eligible 
13 
Rehabilitation Medicine specialist in the said facility. An adequate and 
14 
effective system of documentation, recording and records keeping must be 
15 
maintained for all consultations and services in the facility. The rates for 
16 
consultation and services shall be in accordance with the standards of the 
17 
Philippine Medical Association and PHILHEALTH. 
18 
SEC. 11. Application for Registration and Issuance of License. – 
19 
Applications for registration and issuance of a license shall be filed by the 
20 
owner of the facility or his duly authorized representative with the DOH-
21 
Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (DOH-BHFS), together with an 
22 
information sheet to be filled-up by the physiatrist-in-charge. Upon receipt of 
23 
the said application together with the payment of the license fee, a technical 
24 
committee  will inspect the facility within sixty (60) days. Certificates of 
25 
licenses shall be issued and approved by the Head of the Bureau of Health 
26 
Facilities Services. A provisional license may be granted to facilities with 
27 
insufficient requirements for a period not exceeding one (1) year. 
28 
SEC. 12. Terms and Validity of License. - The license to operate will 
29 
only be valid for a period of two (2) years. Application for renewal of the license 
30 
shall be made during the last six (6) months of validity. The license must be 
31 
displayed in a conspicuous place within the facility. A copy of the rules and 
32 


regulations should also be readily available. Any violation of any of the 
1 
standards provided in this Act shall be a ground for a license to be revoked. 
2 
Charges or complaints against a Rehabilitation Medicine facility or any of its 
3 
personnel shall be submitted for investigation to the PBRM when complaint 
4 
is against a physiatrist, and to the Department of Health-Bureau of Health 
5 
Facilities and Services for other complaints.  
6 
SEC. 13. Penalties. – Any person, partnership, association or 
7 
corporation who shall establish, operate, conduct, manage or maintain a 
8 
rehabilitation medicine facility within the meaning of this Act without first 
9 
obtaining a license, or violates any provision of this Act or its implementing 
10 
rules and regulations shall be imposed a fine of not less than Two Hundred 
11 
Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) but not exceeding Three Hundred Thousand 
12 
Pesos (P300,000.00) for the first offense, and not less than Four Hundred 
13 
Thousand Pesos (P400,000.00) but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand 
14 
Pesos (P500,000.00) for the second offense, and not less than Five Hundred 
15 
Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) but not to exceed Seven Hundred Fifty 
16 
Thousand Pesos (P7500,000.00) for the third offense and each of the 
17 
subsequent offenses. Each day that a facility or other related facility shall 
18 
operate after the first violation shall be considered a subsequent offense.  
19 
In addition to the penalties specified in the preceding paragraph, the 
20 
DOH-BHFS , upon the approval of the Secretary, may summarily order the 
21 
closure of any rehabilitation medicine facility found operating without a 
22 
license. 
23 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – The DOH-
24 
BHFS, in coordination with the national professional organization duly 
25 
recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission, shall promulgate the 
26 
rules and regulations, including the technical standards and requirements for 
27 
the registration, operation and maintenance of rehabilitation medicine 
28 
facilities, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
29 


SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of the Act shall 
1 
be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not 
2 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
3 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, rules and regulations 
4 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
5 
accordingly. 
6 
SEC. 17. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
7 
in the Official Gazette or in any two (2)newspapers of general circulation. 
8 
Approved.