ASOG holds pilot test and roadshow on PhilHealth’s third party accreditation and incentivization program in the province of Iloilo

The Ateneo School of Government, through the Ateneo Policy Center, recently conducted a study titled “Policy Research and Development of Standards and Requirements for the Recognition of Third Party Accreditation Mechanisms in line with Incentives under the Universal Health Care.” The research aimed to create a third-party mechanism program for the effective implementation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) mandate under the Universal Health Care law. One of the program's primary objectives is to facilitate the recognition of well-performing accredited facilities and promote and sustain the delivery of quality healthcare services. 

After receiving a seal of approval from the PhilHealth Board, the research team, led by Senior Research Fellow Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, organized a pilot test and roadshow to validate its findings, proposed toolkits, and recommendations. The province of Iloilo was identified as the first location to conduct the pilot, which will be conducted for four (4) days. With the assistance of the local government unit and the Hospital Management Head of Iloilo, the team conducted the pilot test at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Pototan, Iloilo, last January 27, 2023. 

During the visit, the research team was welcomed by the Chief of Hospital, Dr. Alberto Cordero, together with Chief Nurse, Mr. Jurel Pio, and Administrative Officer,  Ms. May Aparri.  Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go led the presentation and explained the objectives of the TPA mechanism, as well as the purpose of the pilot testing in their facility. The management of Iloilo Provincial Hospital gave a tour of the hospital where innovations and improvement plans that can contribute to the hospital's better health outcomes were presented.

On January 29, 2023, the team held the TPA and Incentivization Program Roadshow in Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, where forty (40) participants from thirteen (13) district hospitals attended. Most of them are administrative officers and PhilHealth representatives in their respective healthcare facilities, as well as medical students and medical professionals in Iloilo.

The roadshow was a venue both for informing the stakeholders of the objectives of the new program, as well as to verify the feasibility of the approved processes, determine the capacity of the healthcare facilities on the ground, and to ascertain the willingness of the hospitals to participate in the TPA and incentivization program.