This is one of the biggest development in the health front in the Philippines- the Zero Balance Billing or ZBB program of the government, under the PBBM Administration.
GOVERNMENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, NOT JUST FOR THE POOR — EVEN THE WEALTHY QUALIFY FOR ZERO BILLING IF ADMITTED TO THE WARD OR BASIC ACCOMMODATION OF A PUBLIC HOSPITAL WHICH ARE PART OF THE ZBB PROGRAM.
This is under the No Balance Billing (NBB) or Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy implemented by the government, which is part of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program. Under this policy, the patient will not pay a single centavo for the hospital bill if admitted to the ward, as PhilHealth and the government will cover the expenses. Hindi na kailangan na pumunta pa sa Malasakit Center at maglakad ng madaming papeles.
WARD IS THE BASIS, NOT SOCIAL STATUS
According to the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, the implementation of Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) does not consider the wealth or poverty of the patient, mayaman or mahirap, pareho lang ang pag-trato, basta ma-meet etong mga kondisyones:
- The patient is admitted to basic/ward accommodation, and
- The hospital is DOH-retained or covered by the ZBB program.
This means that even if the patient is wealthy, if they choose the ward instead of a private or semi-private room, they are covered by zero billing. Pero if sinuman ang mag private room or semi-private room automatic agad na di na kasali sa zero billing kahit naka-confine pa sya sa DOH hospital.
Pakiusap natin sa gobyerno: Damihan ang hospitals na puede ang Zero Billing at damihan ang beds sa mga wards, para mas madaming Filipino ang makinabang.
*Hindi lahat ng public hospitals parte netong programa, check sa baba ang listahan ng ZBB DOH hospitals kung saan puede ang zero billing.
WHAT ZERO BILLING COVERS
If the patient is in the ward, Zero Balance Billing covers:
- Room and board (ward),
- Professional fees of doctors,
- Laboratory and diagnostic tests,
- Operations and medical procedures,
- Medicines available in the hospital.
In this setup, the patient has no out-of-pocket expenses, contrary to the belief that government medical assistance is only for the indigent or “poor.”
BUT, pero if walang stock ng gamot ang hospital at kailangan ng pasyente na bumili ng gamot sa labas na botika, hindi eto irereimburse ng gobyerno.
REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC
Zero Balance Billing does not cover:
- Private and semi-private rooms in public hospitals accredited under ZBB program.
- Services not included in PhilHealth case rates,
- Private hospitals without an agreement with the DOH.
BOTTOMLINE, to sum up this updated policy:
- The basis for assistance is not money, but the type of room.
- Ward = Zero Billing.
- Whether rich or poor, everyone is equal under this policy.
List of 87 DOH Hospitals Offering Zero Balance Billing Nationwide
These are the only public hospitals where the Zero Balance Billing program can be availed by anyone, rich or poor alike.
Luzon – Metro Manila
Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Rizal Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center
Region I – Ilocos
Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center, Ilocos Sur Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Region 1 Medical Center, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Conner District Hospital, Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital
Region II – Cagayan Valley
Batanes General Hospital, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital, Region II Trauma and Medical Center, Southern Isabela Medical Center
Region III – Central Luzon
Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Joni Villanueva General Hospital, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital, Talavera General Hospital
Region IV-A – CALABARZON
Batangas Medical Center, Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital, Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital
Region IV-B – MIMAROPA
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, Ospital ng Palawan
Region V – Bicol
Bicol Medical Center, Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center, Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center
Region VI – Western Visayas
Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center, Western Visayas Medical Center, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital
Region VII – Central Visayas
Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital, Eversley Child Sanitarium and General Hospital, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Cebu South Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas Medical Center, Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center
Negros Island Region
Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital
Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan Medical Center, Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital, Labuan General Hospital, Margosatubig Regional Hospital, Zamboanga Regional Medical Center, Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital, Zamboanga City Medical Center
Region X – Northern Mindanao
Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Camiguin General Hospital, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, Northeastern Misamis General Hospital, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, First Misamis Oriental General Hospital
Region XI – Davao
Davao Occidental General Hospital, Davao Regional Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center
Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital, SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital
Region XIII – Caraga
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital, Siargao Island Medical Center
If the hospital is NOT listed above, then it is not accredited as a ZBB hospital, so not part of zero billing.