Scope
- The guidelines apply to all government healthcare institutions and charity clinics.
Objective
- To update and set realistic classification guidelines for patients in government healthcare institutions and charity clinics.
- To enable proper classification of patients who have limited financial capacity and provide necessary financial relief.
Definition of Terms
- Eligible Beneficiaries: Indigent or poor patients, and partial pay patients seeking medical services in government hospitals or charity clinics.
- Indigent or Poor Patients: Persons unable to meet basic needs or whose income is insufficient for medical expenses; includes those admitted as inpatients (ward, ICU, or small private room) or outpatients.
- Partial Pay Patients: Persons who can meet basic needs but have insufficient income to fully pay medical expenses; applies to both inpatients and outpatients.
- Full Pay Patients: Persons capable of meeting basic needs and full cost of medical treatment, often occupying large private rooms or suites.
Implementing Mechanism
A. Specific Guidelines
- Indigent or Poor Patients:
- Hospital covers all treatment-related expenses including diagnostics, surgery (emergency or elective), drugs, medical supplies, and minimal professional fees (where PhilHealth does not cover).
- Patient bears no cost.
- Partial Pay Patients:
- Hospital covers up to 90% of all treatment-related fees mentioned above.
- Patient pays the remaining portion of the hospital bill not covered by the subsidy.
- Full Pay Patients:
- Patients pay all charges in full.
B. Documentary Requirements
- Applicants must present one of the following to be classified appropriately:
- Latest Income Tax Return, pay slip, or proof of income.
- Certificate of Indigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), its district/local officers, or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
- Certificate of Indigency from the Barangay Chairman where the applicant resides.
Separability Clause
- If any part of this Order is declared invalid, other unaffected provisions remain fully effective.
Effectivity Clause
- This Order becomes effective upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Repealing Clause
- This Order repeals Administrative Order No. 51-A s. 2001 and all other related administrative orders implementing Republic Act No. 747.