Law Summary
Coverage and Application
- Applies to all government and private hospitals, healthcare professionals, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and medicine-dispensing establishments.
- Ensures inclusivity across public and private health sectors and related services like drug stores and pharmacies.
Definitions of Key Terms
- Medicines: Includes prescription and non-prescription drugs approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), excluding foods and devices.
- Unbranded Generic Medicines: Non-patented drugs labeled by generic names without brand names.
- Medical Devices: Instruments or apparatus used for diagnosis or treatment excluding chemical or metabolic action.
- Medical Services: Hospital rooms, professional services, medical supplies, and diagnostic/laboratory tests necessary for treatment.
- Dental Services: Oral care including examination, cleaning, fillings, extractions, and other necessary dental procedures.
- Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests: Various medically necessary tests such as X-rays, blood chemistry, urinalysis, serology, etc.
- Health Care Professionals: Licensed practitioners including doctors, dentists, nurses, and midwives.
- Establishments Dispensing Medicines: Licensed pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and clinics authorized to dispense medicines.
- Government Health Facilities: Public hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and specialty government medical facilities.
- Private Hospitals and Medical Facilities: Privately-owned inpatient and outpatient health facilities.
- Identification Document: Issued by recognized authorities, includes local OSCA IDs, passports, or other credible proof for senior citizen status.
Policy Provisions on Health-related Privileges
- Free subsidized medical, dental, diagnostic, and laboratory services for senior citizens confined in government service wards when medically necessary.
- Twenty percent (20%) discount on medical and dental services in government pay wards and private health facilities, including professional fees and use of specialized equipment.
- No discounts on non-medically necessary services such as cosmetic surgeries, executive check-ups, or special reagents.
- Twenty percent (20%) discount on purchase of unbranded generic medicines exclusively for senior citizens.
- Encouragement of PhilHealth membership for senior citizens to access broader health insurance benefits.
- Funding for governmental facilities to be charged to Office of the President initially, then included in General Appropriations Act; private sector bears part of discount costs with tax benefits.
Procedures for Availment of Privileges
- Free or discounted hospital beds, diagnostic/laboratory tests, dental services, and professional fees in accordance with Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs).
- Designation of Medical Officers for Senior Citizens to determine medical necessity of requests.
- Specific conditions on outpatient and inpatient services, including verification of physician status for laboratory requests in government facilities.
- PhilHealth benefits applied so that discounts do not overlap with insurance coverage.
- Strict regulation of generic drug sales with required prescriptions and documentation to prevent abuse.
- Senior citizens must present valid identification documents for verification.
Responsibilities of Stakeholders
- Government Health Facilities: Post prices publicly, issue official receipts showing discounts, no income means tests for senior citizens, ensure accessibility of the order.
- Private Hospitals and Medical Facilities: Post price lists, issue receipts with discounts, maintain grievance mechanism, report non-compliance.
- Health Care Professionals: Provide detailed prescriptions with license numbers, ensure prescriptions are for exclusive senior citizen use, inform about fees and discounts.
- Drugstores: Provide generic drug menus and official receipts specifying usual and discounted prices.
Penalties and Sanctions
- For individuals: First violation carries fines from P50,000 to P100,000 and imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years; subsequent violations entail higher fines and longer imprisonment.
- Abuse of senior citizen privileges results in fines and imprisonment.
- Foreign offenders are subject to deportation following sentence service.
- For corporations: Responsible officials held liable; possible revocation of business permits and franchises following due process.
Effectivity
- The Administrative Order takes effect immediately upon publication in two national newspapers of general circulation.