SP studies proposal for city as Philhealth collecting agent

AFTER thorough deliberation, the City Council committee on health and sanitation and health insurance chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, favorably endorsed to the committee on ways and means chaired by Councilor George Goking for appropriate action the proposal for the city government of Cagayan de Oro to be a PhilHealth- Accredited Collecting Agent.

Under the agreement, the city will be categorized as a semi-automated collecting agent, which shall receive filled-out PhilHealth Premium Payment Slip (PPPS) along with the corresponding premium contributions of paying PhilHealth members or newly enrolled members.

As a collecting agent, the city shall issue validated PhilHealth prescribed accountable forms called PhilHealth Agents Receipt (PAR) based on the received PPPS from the payor and shall submit to PhilHealth a text file report via electronic mail.

In his letter to the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy, Mayor Oscar Moreno expressed his support to the initiative of the committee urging the city government to act as PhilHealth accredited collecting agent (ACA).

He said the agreement would generate additional revenues for the city besides promoting efficient implementation of the PhilHealth program.

Mayor Moreno requested the City Council for authority to sign the Collection and Remittance Agreement to be executed by and between the city government of Cagayan de Oro and PhilHealth for the purpose.

During the meeting, Councilor Gaane reiterated the marginal note of Mayor Moreno that it is very important that concerned government offices are fully aware of duties and liabilities for fulfilling to such duties.

Gaane said availing the privilege as a collecting agent of PhilHealth will enable the city to get a discount from paying service fees.

She further stressed that the discounted service fee can be an additional source of revenue for the city.(JBD)