AGRI Party-list Rep. Manoy Wilbert Lee blasted the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation amid complaints of patients over the failure to implement PhilHealth’s Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package.
The OECB package, which took effect in January this year under PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033, covers all outpatient services and commodities provided in PhilHealth-accredited healthcare facilities—rendered at the Emergency Department and its extension facilities— including services given before a patient’s arrival, during transport to a health facility, diagnostic tests such as X-ray, MRI, CT scan and other essential emergency services and medicines.
“It is regrettable and unacceptable that despite the official announcement of PhilHealth, this ‘outpatient emergency care service’ is neither operational nor available to PhilHealth members in several, if not all hospital across the country.”
According to the said PhilHealth Circular, this much needed benefit package do not require hospital admission or confinement.
“Ayaw natin ng fake news lalo na sa serbisyong pangkalusugan. Hindi natin dapat paasahin sa mga benepisyo ang ating mga kababayan na matagal nang pinagkaitan ng serbisyo na deserve at karapatan nilang matanggap lalo na kung kaya namang ibigay ng PhilHealth sa bilyon-bilyong pondo na meron sila,” Lee said.
The Bicolano lawmaker revealed that he wrote a letter to PhilHealth Acting President and Officer-in-Charge Dr. Edwin Mercado on March 23 to seek clarification on the matter.
In the said letter, Lee cited two billing statements from two hospitals where PhilHealth coverage for the emergency room expenses of two different patients was zero, reflecting that the benefit package has not been honored or implemented.
“It is regrettable and unacceptable that despite the official announcement of PhilHealth, this ‘outpatient emergency care service’ is neither operational nor available to PhilHealth members in several, if not all hospital across the country,” the solon pointed out.
“Time is of the essence on this matter. As time progresses without addressing this issue, every PhilHealth member rushed to every emergency room is burdened with the additional cost to pay,” he added.
AGRI Party-list which is running for reelection in the 2025 National and Local elections underscored the importance of addressing this issue the soonest possible time. It urged PhilHealth to update on the status of the outpatient emergency care benefit package and ensure its swift and effective implementation, saying, “It is imperative that the PhilHealth management takes immediate responsibility and addresses this critical issue without further delay.”
“Seryoso tayo sa layunin nating libreng gamot at pagpapagamot para sa bawat Pilipino para mabawasan ang kanilang araw-araw na pasanin at pangamba. Kaya kung ano ang ipinangakong dagdag na serbisyong pangkalusugan, dapat tuparin at maramdaman ng bawat miyembro at mga benepisyaryo,” AGRI Party-list said.
“Filipinos deserve better, so we must demand better services. Noon pa po natin ipinapanawagan at ipinaglalaban, at kamakailan sa oral arguments ukol sa paglilipat ng pondo sa PhilHealth, ay sinang-ayunan din ng mga Mahistrado sa Korte Suprema na dapat gamitin ang bilyon-bilyong pondo sa kalusugan para sa kalusugan kesa mga proyektong wala naman mamamatay kung hindi gawin,” it added.
AGRI Party-list, under Lee’s leadership, was the first to expose that PhilHealth has billions of available funds in September 2023. Lee’s persistent efforts resulted to the implementation of PhilHealth’s increased benefits and free medical services.
The said increases include the 30% increase in health benefits which was implemented in February 2024, another 50% increase which started in 2025, free dialysis, free eye check-up and prescription glasses for ages 0-15, free dental care, expanded coverage for breast cancer treatment, new benefit package for kidney transplant and heart ailments, and the said outpatient emergency care services, among others.
