Pimentel flags PhilHealth’s ‘rollercoaster’ performance in GCG system

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday flagged the "rollercoaster" performance ratings given to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) by the Governance Commission for Government Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG) from 2016 to 2022.

GCG, which is mandated to ensure that GOCCs are transparent and responsive to the needs of the public, disclosed its ratings for the state insurance firm after Pimentel asked how it rates PhilHealth considering that there are issues when the latter failed to increase their benefit packages.

"What is the grade you are giving PhilHealth under the scorecard system of the GCG?" Pimentel asked.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who defends the budget of the GCG, disclosed that PhilHealth got a rating of 13.75% as the lowest and 93.97% as the highest from 2016 to 2022.

"In 2016, 93.97%; 2017 — ito bagsak ito, 47.82%; 2018 pasang awa, 78.17%; 2019, 62.25%; 2020, 13.75%; 2021, 28.07%; and 2022, 71.87% and 2023 it’s undergoing evaluation," Estrada said.

Pimentel noted that the ratings given to PhilHealth are like a "rollercoaster."

"Kung makikita natin, parang roller coaster. Can we get how a government agency can behave like a rollercoaster under the scorecard system of the GCG? Meron bang criteria na too subjective?" the minority leader asked.

According to Estrada, there are various measures in PhilHealth that are being evaluated by the GCG, such as the total number of accredited providers and the percentage of patients with no co-payment in basic ward accommodations in the hospitals.

Pimentel then asked what rating is considered by the GCG as "worrisome."

"Ang scorecard ba parang grading sa eskuwelahan na pag below 75 ay bagsak o failure ka?  Let’s apply it to PhilHealth kasi maraming concern sa PhilHealth eh. Ano ang number na worrisome na? Ano ang score na bagsak?" Pimentel said.

Estrada, citing the GCG's response, said the required score that is considered for them to be "legible" for the performance bonus is 90% above.

"Sa nabanggit kong scorecard since 2016 up to 2022, lahat po ay bagsak except the year 2016," he said.  

Pimentel then pointed out that GCG's purpose is to make sure that GOCCs like PhilHealth perform well.

"Yan ang purpose ng GCG kasi para kayo ang taga-gising, taga-latigo sa mga GOCCs to perform better," the minority leader said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News