MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) plans to require all hospitals under its supervision to implement zero-balance billing for pay wards used by PhilHealth direct contributors, Secretary Ted Herbosa said Monday.

PhilHealth direct contributors are those who regularly pay their contributions monthly.

Herbosa said the policy will be issued through a Department Memorandum Circular.

“Pwede nang iutos na maglagay at mag-allocate ng special area for direct contributors or yung ating mga working class or middle class na gustong magpa-accommodate sa zero balance billing sa ating mga hospital,” Herbosa said.
(We can now direct hospitals to allocate special areas for direct contributors, or those in the working or middle class, who wish to avail themselves of zero balance billing in our hospitals.)

He added that the arrangement will allow hospitals to determine if these patients can be given better accommodations.
“So, ise-separate namin kayo para matingnan kung kayo ay mabigyan ng mas magandang accommodation,” he said.

Pay wards are separate from basic accommodations, which are already covered under the existing Zero Balance Billing policy. The planned expansion aims to make government health benefits more accessible to middle-class earners.