Policy and coverage rules
- Section 1 classifies patients in government hospitals and/or charity clinics based on the patient’s total income at the time of confinement.
- Section 1 divides patients into Indigent patients, Partial pay patients, and Full pay patients.
- Section 1 assigns different charge obligations to each patient category regarding charges incurred during confinement.
Patient classification by income thresholds
- Indigent patients are those whose total income at the time of confinement is less than seventy-five pesos a month if not married.
- Indigent patients also include married patients and family heads where the family’s total income does not exceed one hundred and thirty-five pesos a month, computed with an allowance of twenty pesos for each additional family member, but not to exceed the stated family ceiling of one hundred and thirty-five pesos.
- Indigent patients are absolutely free from any and all charges incurred by the hospital during confinement and are given priority in accommodation.
- Partial pay patients are those whose total income at the time of confinement is seventy-five pesos to one hundred and thirty-five pesos a month if not married.
- Partial pay patients also include married patients and family heads where the family’s total income does not exceed two hundred pesos a month, computed with an allowance of twenty pesos for each additional family member, but not to exceed the family ceiling of two hundred pesos.
- Partial pay patients pay only the cost of medicines used and the hospitalization fees.
- Full pay patients are those whose total income at the time of confinement is more than two hundred pesos, whether single or married and/or head of a family.
- Full pay patients include family situations where the family’s total income is more than two hundred pesos a month.
- Full pay patients pay medicines used, hospitalization charges, and professional fees.
What “medicines,” “hospitalization,” and “professional services” mean
- Section 2 defines Medicines as drugs used and administered necessary for the cure of the patient.
- Section 2 defines Hospitalization fee as payment for rooms (including delivery room, nursery room, patient’s room, etc.) and all other fees excluding professional services.
- Section 2 defines Professional services as medical and nursing service.
Duty of the Department of Health
- Section 3 requires the Department of Health to promulgate necessary rules and regulations to ensure due execution of Republic Act No. 747.
Discount for government employees and families
- Section 4 grants government employees and members of their families a reduction of twenty per cent from all hospital fees.
Penalty for misrepresentation of patient assets
- Section 5 imposes a fine equal to double the total fees to be charged for any misrepresentation regarding the true assets of the patient made by the patient or by the patient’s authorized representative.
Penalties and liability for hospital officials and employees
- Section 6 provides that any government hospital or charity clinic official or employee who violates Republic Act No. 747 shall be fined for not more than five hundred pesos.
- Section 6 makes the violating official or employee responsible for any damages incurred.
- Section 6 preserves whatever administrative action may be proper under the circumstances.
Income limits may be changed by the President
- Section 7 authorizes the President to change the income limitations for admitted patients as set in Section 1.
- Section 7 requires such changes to be done by executive order.
- Section 7 ties changes to marked fluctuations of the standard of living at the time of the approval of Republic Act No. 747.
Repeal and effectivity
- Section 8 repeals any and all provisions of law contrary to Republic Act No. 747.
- Section 9 states Republic Act No. 747 takes effect upon approval (June 18, 1952).