Erwin Tulfo seeks PhilHealth coverage of doctors’ fees

ACT-CIS Party-list Representative and senatorial candidate Erwin Tulfo is eyeing to file a bill that will mandate the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include the coverage of doctors’ professional fees in their benefit packages. 

In a statement Thursday, Tulfo noted that the payment of professional fees was one of the burdens that patients bear in seeking to be discharged from the hospitals as PhilHealth only covers the costs of medicines and room charges. 

“When poor and underprivileged Filipinos get financial aid through medical assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the Department of Health (DOH), they use it just to pay for hospital treatment and medicines that PhilHealth was not able to cover,” Tulfo, a former DSWD secretary, said. 

“Patients are unable to leave the hospital on the same day of being discharged simply because they cannot afford the doctors’ or specialists’ professional fees… this is why doctors’ professional fees should be included in PhilHealth benefits,” he added. 

The lawmaker then questioned the current PhilHealth policy, pointing out that the state insurer was deducting these funds for their benefit packages from the salaries of employees. 

“What is the point of salary deductions from Filipino workers’ hard-earned wages and the annual budget allocated by Congress to PhilHealth?” Tulfo asked. 

The lawmaker said that he will file a bill to address this once Congress resumes session on June 2. 

Should this be filed, Congress only has until June 13 to pass the measure on third and final reading. 

Camarines sortie

Meanwhile, the administration-backed Senate slate, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, will campaign in Camarines Sur on Friday, March 7 aiming to fortify its stronghold in the Bicol region.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will join the Alyansa senatorial candidates in the province, which has around 1.34 million registered voters.

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, pointed out the "strategic importance" of Camarines Sur, given its economic strength, population size, and role in national politics.

“As the third wealthiest province in the Philippines and the largest in Bicol by population and land area, Camarines Sur is a crucial battleground for Alyansa,” Tiangco said.

“The province is central to agriculture, trade, and infrastructure in the region, and our goal is to ensure continued progress and national alignment in its development,” he added.

Go, Bato

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban bet, Senator Bong Go, criticized PhilHealth for its fund management and called for the expansion of benefit packages to better serve Filipino patients.

As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Go emphasized that health is a fundamental right and should not be treated as a business.

 "Ang PhilHealth po, hindi negosyo. Insurance po ito na dapat nating maasahan tuwing tayo ay nagkakasakit," he said during his speech at the Liga ng mga Barangay—Aklan Chapter on Thursday.

(PhilHealth is not a business. It is an insurance system that we should be able to rely on whenever we get sick).

He highlighted the recent issue of PhilHealth's excess funds, noting that P89.9 billion was returned to the National Treasury instead of being used for patient care. According to Go, this surplus could have been allocated to benefit more Filipinos in need of medical assistance. 

"Kung ginamit niyo ito noon pa, wala sanang excess funds. Ilang buhay pa sana ang nasaklolo kung ginamit ito nang tama," he said.

(If this had been used earlier, there wouldn’t have been excess funds. How many more lives could have been saved if the funds were properly utilized?)

He also pointed out specific cases where PhilHealth's current policies failed to support patients. One notable case involved a patient from Camarines Norte who accumulated hospital bills totaling P10 million, yet PhilHealth only covered P57,000.

"Sabi nila, tataasan nila ng 50%, pero kahit idagdag mo, napakaliit pa rin. Dapat taasan nila ang case rates at palawakin ang benefit packages," Go demanded.

(They said they would increase it by 50%, but even with that, it's still too small. They should increase the case rates and expand the benefit packages.)

Additionally, Go criticized PhilHealth’s previous policies, such as the single period of confinement rule, which prevented patients from receiving coverage if they were readmitted within a short period for the same illness. 

"Mapipigilan mo bang magkasakit ulit? Kaya buti na lang at tinanggal na nila ito," he said.

(Can you prevent yourself from getting sick again? That's why it's good that they finally removed this rule.)

 He welcomed PhilHealth’s commitment to removing these restrictive policies and improving its benefits coverage.

Go reiterated that PhilHealth must increase its case rates and expand coverage to include services such as dental care, optometric check-ups, and free eyeglasses. 

"Pinangako nila na isasama na ang dental at optometric care sa benefits. Sisiguraduhin ko na matutupad ito," he said. He stated that these promised reforms should be implemented immediately to ensure that more Filipinos receive adequate healthcare support.

(They promised to include dental and optometric care in the benefits. I will make sure this happens.)

Addressing the issue of contribution rates, Go also shared his support for amending the Universal Healthcare Law to lower premium contributions, easing the financial burden on Filipino workers. As an author and co-sponsor of the proposed amendment, he expressed hope that it would soon be signed into law.

Go was also part of the motorcade rally in Pasay City alongside senatorial candidate Willie Revillame. 

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, meanwhile, addressed criticisms against him, particularly regarding his tenure as a law enforcer during the Seslong Festival 2025: IP & Sitios Day Celebration at the T’Boli Municipal Gymnasium in South Cotabato. 

“Kung madungog ninyo, ako gina-criticize sa atong mga kabilang kampo na ako daw, nidagan pagkasenador with blood in my hands,” he said. 

(If you hear it, I am being criticized by the other side, saying that I ran for senator with blood in my hands.)

“Ang sagot ko naman diyan, wala akong pakialam kung ‘yung aking kamay ay mabahiran ng dugo basta ‘yan ay dugo ng mga taong masasama at kailangang mabahiran ng dugo ang aking mga kamay para maprotektahan ang buhay ng matitino, mababait at law-abiding Filipinos,” he emphasized. 

(My answer to that is, I don’t care if my hands are stained with blood as long as it is the blood of criminals and if it needs to be stained to protect the lives of decent, good, and law-abiding Filipinos.)

He stood firm that law enforcement should act decisively to protect peace-loving citizens. 

“Nagpulis pa ako kung hindi ko kayang gawin ‘yan? Useless kang pulis kung hindi mo kayang depensahan ang mga peace-loving people,” he stated. 

(Why would I become a policeman if I couldn’t do that? You are a useless policeman if you cannot defend peace-loving people.)

The Seslong Festival is an annual celebration honoring the rich culture and heritage of the T’Boli people, with special events dedicated to Indigenous Peoples (IP) and sitio communities.—With Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News

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