Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2014-0024)
The purpose of DOH Administrative Order No. 2014-0024 is to provide guidelines on medical assistance to indigent and poor patients in government hospitals, rationalizing the allocation and utilization of the medical assistance fund.
Eligible beneficiaries are indigent or poor patients who cannot meet basic needs or have insufficient income to fully meet their medical expenses and are seeking medical services in government hospitals.
The order covers government hospitals owned or managed by the Department of Health (DOH), Local Government Units (LGUs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), including retained hospitals, specialty hospitals, LGU hospitals, and SUC hospitals.
The Medical Assistance Fund represents the allocation in the 2014 General Appropriations Act intended for medical assistance to indigent or poor patients.
The Chief of Hospital has the authority to approve medical assistance requests with a maximum amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) per patient. Amounts in excess require approval from the Secretary of Health or authorized representative.
Applicants need to present pertinent documents such as a Doctor’s Prescription/Request, Billing Statement, and Case Summary from the concerned DSWD worker to the hospital’s Medical Social Worker.
The DOH Financial Management Service sub-allots and downloads funds to retained hospitals, specialty hospitals, DOH Regional Offices, which then enter into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with hospitals under their jurisdiction. The head of the concerned government hospital is responsible for utilizing the funds properly in accordance with COA guidelines.
Any medical assistance exceeding the maximum approved amount of P100,000.00 requires the approval of the Secretary of Health or his authorized representative before the assistance can be granted.
Concerned hospitals must submit a monthly report on or before the 7th day of the succeeding month detailing fund utilization, including patient names and addresses, medical services and assistance given, and the amounts provided to each patient and the total assistance given.
If any part or provision of the order is held invalid, the other unaffected provisions shall remain in full force and effect according to the Separability Clause.
Administrative Orders 2014-0013 (dated April 7, 2014) and 2014-0017 (dated May 22, 2014) were repealed along with any inconsistent provisions related to the utilization of the 2014 GAA appropriations.
This Administrative Order took effect on July 15, 2014, upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation or on the DOH website.