PhilHealth, through an advisory signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado, directed hospitals nationwide to strictly enforce the OECB package. Non-compliance may result in administrative cases or citations under the Health Care Provider Performance Assessment System (HCP PAS) Policy.
The OECB, created under PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033, complements Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, by expanding financial protection for patients needing immediate care at accredited Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals.
This policy’s implementation is part of several reforms long called for by Senator Go. Notably, he raised the issue of the anti-poor 24-hour confinement rule, which previously prevented patients from availing of PhilHealth benefits unless confined for at least a day.
PhilHealth, responding to this appeal, expanded coverage to include emergency outpatient services—an effort that directly paved the way for the full rollout of the OECB.
“Napakahalaga ng ganitong hakbang dahil kapag emergency na, hindi dapat pag-isipan pa ng pasyente kung may pambayad siya o wala. Dapat agad mapakinabangan ng nangangailangan ang benepisyo mula PhilHealth,” Go remarked, underscoring the urgency of removing barriers to outpatient emergency care.
The OECB ensures that hospitals can treat eligible emergency cases without requiring additional applications, as eligibility is presumed through their Department of Health license. PhilHealth also assured that its regional offices are ready to assist healthcare providers in complying with this requirement.
"Ang PhilHealth po ay para sa health yan. Hindi po negosyo ang PhilHealth na papaluguin ninyo po, eh insurance po ang PhilHealth na merong masasandalan ang Pilipino tuwing tayo’y nagkakasakit," said Go previously.
"Marami pong kababayan po natin ang takot na magpa-ospital, takot magpa-check up dahil sa kahirapan. Yung iba po hindi nila alam na miyembro sila ng PhilHealth," he added.
With this, Senator Go filed Senate Bill No. 170 at the start of the 20th Congress titled the PhilHealth Card Act of 2025, seeking to mandate the issuance of PhilHealth cards to all Filipinos. The proposed legislation aims to reinforce public awareness and recognition of individual coverage under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), as required by the UHC Act.
Go’s health reforms crusade has helped drive a broad range of improvements within PhilHealth in recent years. PhilHealth lifted the 45-day annual limit on hospitalizations for members and their dependents, ensuring continuous coverage for prolonged or chronic illnesses.
PhilHealth has also pledged to expand its benefit offerings to include dental services, mental health care, outpatient drug coverage, diagnostic tests such as MRIs and CT scans, medical transportation, and assistive devices like wheelchairs and crutches.
Patients battling severe conditions—including cancer and cardiac disease—are now supported by enhanced packages for treatment and rehabilitation. Improvements to Z Packages for kidney-related illnesses were also implemented, including expanded coverage for peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplantation (both living and deceased donors), and pediatric dialysis.
To complement these reforms, PhilHealth assured the Senate Committee on Health that they will continue to work on expanding its network of accredited healthcare providers, streamlining the accreditation process for government-run primary care facilities, and ensuring that PhilHealth representatives are present in Malasakit Centers nationwide to assist patients effectively.
Meanwhile, Go vowed to continue the Senate’s oversight functions in monitoring the implementation of such policies as well as ensure that hospitals comply and that patients receive timely and appropriate support.
“Patuloy akong makikinig at tutulong para maayos ang pagpapatupad ng ganitong mga programa. Dapat maiparamdam natin sa tao ang tulong ng gobyerno, lalo na sa mga oras na pinaka-kailangan nila ito,” he declared.
Senator Bong Go