Law Summary
Objective
- To improve access to quality health facilities while efficiently using limited government resources.
- To streamline licensure and accreditation by harmonizing DOH minimum licensing safety standards with PhilHealth core indicators.
- To recognize DOH licensed hospitals as Centers of Safety automatically, eliminating separate PhilHealth surveys.
Scope and Coverage
- Applies to DOH regulatory offices including BHFS, FDA, CHD, and PhilHealth.
- Covers all government and private hospitals subject to regulatory policies and standards.
Definition of Terms
- Applicant: person or entity applying for a hospital License to Operate (LTO).
- Accreditation: verification process conferring privileges ensuring health service quality.
- Assessment Tool: checklist for hospital licensure standards used by regulators and hospitals for self-assessment.
- BHFS: Bureau of Health Facilities and Services – DOH’s licensing body.
- CHD: Center for Health Development, DOH regional office.
- CO: Central Office of DOH.
- DOH Permit to Construct (DOH-PTC): prerequisite approval before hospital construction or expansion, required for LTO.
- LTO: License to Operate, formal authorization by DOH to operate a hospital after compliance.
- PhilHealth: Philippine Health Insurance Corporation managing hospital accreditation.
- Streamlining: strategy to simplify licensing and accreditation through harmonized standards and coordinated processes.
General Guidelines on Streamlining Licensure and Accreditation
- DOH through BHFS, FDA, and CHD will implement the modified streamlined licensing.
- Regulatory officers to use the enhanced Assessment Tool available on the DOH website.
- All DOH licensed hospitals automatically accredited as Centers of Safety by PhilHealth without separate surveys.
- Licensing processes shall continue following previous relevant DOH administrative orders alongside this new order.
Specific Guidelines: Standards
- DOH BHFS to incorporate PhilHealth core accreditation indicators into the hospital licensure Assessment Tool.
- Full compliance with Assessment Tool standards required before granting an LTO.
Specific Guidelines: Application for LTO
- Applications submitted to DOH Central Office or CHD One-Stop Shop secretariat.
- Required documents:
- Approved Certificate of Need for new general hospitals.
- Approved DOH-PTC for initial or relevant renewal applications.
- The LTO application form.
- Proof of ownership (DTI/SEC registration, Articles of Incorporation/By-laws).
- Most recent hospital statistical report for renewal.
- Duly accomplished Self-Assessment Tool.
Specific Guidelines: Licensing Process for New LTO
- Licensing team validates hospital’s submitted Self-Assessment Tool during an initial inspection.
- DOH CO issues the LTO after full compliance review.
Specific Guidelines: Licensing Process for Renewal of LTO
- Document completeness evaluated within five working days.
- Renewal processed only after on-site inspection/monitoring and receipt of required documents.
Monitoring
- Monitoring teams use the hospital’s Self-Assessment Tool.
- Unannounced monitoring visits conducted by BHFS, FDA, CHD with frequency determined internally.
Reporting Requirements
- Regular reports prepared including:
- Hospital listings by region.
- Quarterly LTO status updates.
- Annual consolidated hospital statistical reports.
- Semi-annual reports on deficiencies and violations.
- Quarterly reports on complaints against hospitals.
- Quarterly reports on sanctions and penalties.
Fees
- Fees governed by current and future DOH BHFS issuances, factoring in inspection and monitoring labor.
PhilHealth Accreditation
- DOH licensed hospitals deemed automatically accredited as Centers of Safety.
- No separate PhilHealth survey required for this level.
- Hospitals applying for higher awards (Center of Quality/Excellence) undergo separate PhilHealth surveys.
- Failure to meet required scores results in downgrade to Center of Safety or appropriate award.
- Accredited hospitals subject to PhilHealth monitoring policies per relevant circulars.
Violations and Penalties
- Non-compliance constitutes violation subject to sanctions under A.O. No. 2007-0022 dealing with licensing violations.
Publication of Licensed Hospitals
- Annual publication of licensed hospital lists to encourage quality improvements and inform the public.
- Lists posted on DOH and BHFS websites immediately after LTO issuance.
Repealing Clause
- Prior inconsistent provisions from earlier issuances are rescinded or modified accordingly.
Separability Clause
- Invalidated provisions do not affect the validity of remaining parts of the Order.
Effectivity
- The Order takes effect 15 days post-approval and publication in a newspaper of general circulation.