Mayor Jerry P. Treñas demanded the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to settle its financial obligation to the Iloilo City Government-run molecular laboratory.
Treñas wrote a demand letter dated Dec. 27 to PhilHealth president and chief executive officer (CEO) Atty. Dan A. Gierran.
“The City Government formally demands for the payment of P324,932,240 which represents the services for COVID-19 RT-PCR test benefit packages that are payable to city-run Uswag Molecular Laboratory within seven days from receipts hereof,” the letter read.
The mayor did not specify his move in case the state health insurer fails pay the unpaid claim.
The Complaints Action Center of Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) was also furnished a copy of the letter.
Trenas said the prevalence and continuing emergence of COVID-19 variants require the continued detection of possibly infected individuals, to guide and enable the Iloilo City Local Government to pro-actively address and arrest the spread of the disease.
According to the mayor, “if PhilHealth continues to fail and refuse to pay the services for COVID-19 RT-PCR test benefit packages to the Uswag Molecular Laboratory, it will definitely lead to drastic consequences, which may include the cessation of COVID-19 testing operations due to lack of funds to sustain the same, and this will ultimately redound to the detriment of the population of Iloilo City.”
Treñas noted that as of Dec. 14, 2021, the Uswag Molecular Laboratory from the start or its operation has successfully tested 99,473 patients for COVID-19 through RT-PRC testing, with an equivalent cost of P 339.103,457.
Available records further showed that PhilHeallh, out of the total amounts due from it, has only paid P14, 171, 213.IMT
