BACOLOD CITY – Dr. Eduardo Banzon, president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and provincial officials of Negros Occidental led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. will meet at Nature’s Village in Talisay City today to discuss matters involving the increase in PhilHealth premium.

The meeting comes after the Provincial Board passed a resolution Wednesday seeking a moratorium on the increase of premium contributions beginning this year.

Fifth District Board Member Melvin Ibañez, committee on health chairman, said the implementation of the increase is “untimely” and will result in non-renewal by thousands of local government units-enrolled indigents in Negros Occidental.

Banzon, for his part, said PhilHealth’s goal is to achieve 100 percent coverage and ensure genuine financial risk protection.

“We ensure the increase of financial protection through reforms in provider payment mechanisms, benefit design, and provider accreditation,” he said.

Recently, PhilHealth adopted the case rates as a benefit payment scheme with the option of “no balance-billing” especially for indigents confined in government hospitals.

Records show that Negros Occidental received PhilHealth benefits amounting P193 million from January to December 2011 as proceeds of 37,511 paid claims plus the capitation funds released to local government units and the provincial government.

The payment is made for the room and board, drugs and medicines, laboratory and supplies and doctors professional fees in both accredited hospital and non-hospital facilities including reimbursements made to PhilHealth members and their dependents for their hospitalization, diagnostics, and availment of other outpatient benefits.

The PhilHealth Capitation Fund is intended to improve the delivery of Primary Care and outpatient services of LGUs implementing the National Health Insurance Program. PhilHealth payment is expected to increase with the release of the remaining on process claims and accrued capitation fund for the last quarter of 2011.

In 2011, Negros Occidental enrolment reached 146,261 households and the provincial government with the component LGUs paid P60,810,071 for their premiums. The provincial government’s counterpart is P13,426,720.

The actual benefit payments have reached P192,880,148.60, and Negros Occidental has benefited P136,804,557.24, the excess of benefits received over the local governments remittances, according to the PhilHealth.

PhilHealth has three service offices in Negros Occidental. These are located in the cities of Bacolod, Kabankalan, and Sagay.*