Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11762)
The main purpose of Act No. 985 is to authorize payments from the Insular Treasury to medical officers or contract surgeons of the United States Army for medical services rendered to members of the Philippines Constabulary when medical attendance authorized by law is not otherwise available.
The Chief of the Philippines Constabulary or an assistant chief in charge of an established district has the authority to specially authorize such employment.
Medical services can be rendered when an officer or enlisted man of the Constabulary is suffering from illness or injury incurred in the line of duty, and no medical officer authorized by law is available or within reach to provide medical or surgical attendance.
Payments should be made in accordance with the prescribed schedule of fees for medical services in the Philippines Constabulary, from the appropriations for medical attendance, and are to be paid by proper vouchers to the chief surgeon of the Division of the Philippines, not to any individual officer.
Regular schedule of fees for subsistence and attendance at such hospitals shall be paid, no more than the stipulated amount, and payments are made to the chief surgeon via proper vouchers by the Constabulary paymaster.
Appropriations for medical attendance of the Philippines Constabulary are made available for such payments, subject to conditions prescribed in Act No. 807, and officers are entitled only to reimbursement for hospital charges due to injury or disability received in line of duty.
Section 4 authorizes the Auditor to credit disbursing officers' accounts with amounts suspended due to previous payments to medical officers or contract surgeons, making the Act retroactive for the purpose of such payments.
The Auditor may allow credit to accounts of provincial treasurers for payments made to U.S. Army officers or medical officers for such services, provided no authorized medical officer was available, the payments are reasonable, and a certificate of fee reasonableness from the Commissioner of Public Health is shown.
They may be required to render medical service without charge to Constabulary officers or enlisted men, provincial prisoners, or indigent persons when properly notified or directed by appropriate officials.
No, they shall not be paid for such medical services rendered to individuals authorized by law to receive free medical attendance.