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PhilHealth released funds to hospitals not in need, whistleblower says
PhilHealth lost at least P2 billion due to fraud in its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) program, which distributed over P14 billion to hospitals for COVID-19 operations.
A whistleblower, Atty. Thorrsson Montes Keith, a resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud officer, stated that cash advances were released through the IRM even to hospitals that did not need them.
Keith explained that the modus operandi involved offering IRM funds to private hospitals regardless of their need, in exchange for a "part" of the funds.
He highlighted that the IRM, intended as a temporary reimbursement for claims, was disbursed without any pending claims from the hospitals.
Despite fraud cases, 51 healthcare institutions had previously received P1.49 billion through the IRM.
PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales and 13 other key officials have signed waivers allowing the Anti-Money Laundering Council to examine their bank accounts.
PhilHealth suspended the IRM last week due to corruption allegations.
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News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Congresswoman Stella Quimbo criticized PhilHealth's Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) funds, calling them "blank checks" given to hospitals.
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Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is pushing for the abolition of PhilHealth's interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM), calling it a source of issues and more of a cash advance than a reimbursement.
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Several senators welcomed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) suspension of its interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) as a positive step towards transparency and allowing scrutiny of past fund releases.
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Senator Panfilo Lacson alleged that PhilHealth exhibited favoritism in its distribution of Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) funds for COVID-19 treatment.
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PhilHealth Senior Vice President Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr. admitted that the release of advance payments to hospitals through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) from March to early June was illegal.
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