MANILA — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a measure that would require hospitals to issue fully itemized billing statements, citing continued concerns over unclear and incomplete charges faced by Filipino patients.

Patients, he noted, often receive hospital bills that lack detailed breakdowns, particularly in professional fees and other charges, making it difficult for families to verify and understand the total cost of medical services.

To address this, Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 1987, which proposes a standardized and itemized statement of account for health care services by amending Republic Act No. 11223.

“There must be a higher standard when it comes to medical institutions. Yes, we understand that hospitals operate within financial constraints and must remain fiscally responsible, but accountability in billing should never be compromised,” Tulfo said during a privilege speech he delivered on March 3, 2026.

The proposed measure requires hospitals to issue a comprehensive billing statement that details facility charges, medicines, laboratory and diagnostic services, and professional fees. It also mandates the inclusion of the names, specialties, and services rendered by attending health care professionals.

The bill further assigns the Department of Health, in coordination with PhilHealth, to develop a standardized billing format aimed at improving transparency.

Tulfo said the absence of a uniform billing system undermines patient protection and hampers the ability of regulators to properly evaluate hospital charges and align them with benefit coverage.

He added that the proposal is intended to shield patients from unclear and unexpected medical expenses.

“In the end, the measure of a healthcare system is not found solely in its equipment, facilities, or balance sheets, but in how it treats the weakest among us,” he said.

The bill, filed on March 17, 2026, four days before the session break, is currently pending before the Committee on Health and Demography.