MANILA -- The new President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation says they will abide by the Supreme Court decision on the controversial transfer of Philhealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury. 

“Sa issue po noong 89.7 billion ho na binanggit ninyo, sa kasalukuyan po ay mayroon na pong proseso na nangyayari sa Supreme Court. We respect the process that the Supreme Court is undergoing and we will abide by whatever ruling the Supreme Court will have,” Dr. Edwin Mercado told Palace reporters in a Malacanang briefing Wednesday. 

Mercado’s statement comes as the Supreme Court begins oral arguments on the transfer of unused Philhealth funds which petitioners argued is unconstitutional. 

The new Philhealth chief also vowed to “heal” the various “illnesses” plaguing the state health insurer, including issues of inefficiency and wastage. 

READ: Dr. Edwin Mercado is new PhilHealth chief

READ: Petitioners insist P89.9-B PhilHealth fund transfer to national treasury unconstitutional

“Ako bilang manggagamot, parang tinitingnan ko rin po ang PhilHealth na may sakit at inaalam ko rin po, ano iyong lunas. So, iyon po iyong aking unang kailangang gawin – aralin pong mabuti kung ano po iyong mga prosesong kailangang baguhin para po iyong directive po ng ating Presidente, mahal na Presidente na tuluy-tuloy ang serbisyo at palalawigin pa natin iyong benepisyo,” Mercado, a US-trained physician, medical researcher, and longtime hospital administrator said in the same briefing. 

Mercado was sworn in by President Marcos Jr amid various controversies faced by Philhealth, including its supposed inefficiency in delivering healthcare benefits to members. 

“Ang objective po natin ay mapalawig iyong benepisyo at hindi ma-deter o hindi ho maapektuhan iyong pagbibigay ng ating serbisyo,” he said. “So, ang una pong kailangan gawin nga po is the financial reporting para po mas malinis, mas standard – iyon po, medyo mas madali po iyon dahil parang chart of accounts ang idi-define. Kapag mayroon na ho tayong datos iyon na po iyong pagbabasehan natin – apple to apple po tayo moving forward.” 

The official says he will look into addressing the billions of pesos on unpaid claims which Philhealth currently owes hospitals, by improving the claims process and prioritizing digitization. 

“Una po naming tututukan ay ano ho ba iyong pinaka-reason bakit nari-return to hospital at ano ho iyong reason bakit bumabagal iyong claims processing,” he said. “Hopefully nga po ay makapaglabas kami ng mga panibagong procedure para iyong mga causes ay ma-identify at iyong mga minor lang naman ay maituloy kaagad. So, iyon po ay hindi lang prospectively kung hindi also retroactive – so, iyong mga datihang denied claims ay aaralin po namin; kung ano po naman iyong puwede nang mabayaran kung ang basehan po ay mai-set namin na in compliance din po siyempre sa COA rules,” he continued. 

“Iyon pong digitization ay talaga pong ipu-push namin kasi iyon po ang long-term solution natin for claims adjudication, at saka iyong data para malaman po natin magkano po talaga  ang kailangan nating pondo na pagbabasehan natin ng pagba-budget.”