THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) yesterday reminded all accredited hospitals and medical facilities to automatically apply the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package to patients in need of such.
In its Advisory No. 2025-0042, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (P/CEO) Edwin Mercado said accredited hospitals must provide the OECB package without exemptions.
“All accredited hospitals are hereby reminded to strictly implement the deduction of the OECB Package,” said Mercado.
He said this is because outpatient emergency cases managed in the emergency department of PhilHealth-accredited Level 1, 2, and 3 hospitals are covered by the benefit package.
“Their capability to provide the said benefit is assumed,” said the PhilHealth chief.
“Hospitals found to be non-compliant shall be subject to Health Care Provider Performance Assessment System (HCP PAS) Policy, and possible administrative cases as deemed necessary, such as, but not limited to Breach of the Performance Commitment,” said Mercado.
Last February, PhilHealth introduced the OECB package, which seeks to bridge the gap in financial coverage to patients requiring urgent or emergency care.
