MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to rid its records of “unauthorized recipients and other anomalous transactions” under its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM). ADVERTISEMENTThe IRM is an emergency cash advance measure of PhilHealth to provide hospitals with an emergency fund to respond to natural disasters, calamities as well as other unexpected events. Kung binubulsa ang COVID funds sa IRM system, bakit itutuloy ang sistema [If COVID funds are being pocketed, why would you continue the system]?” Pangilinan said in a statement on Friday. Senator Risa Hontiveros, likewise, welcomed PhilHealth’s decision to halt the release of funds through its IRM. “I agree na dapat syang suspendihin ngayon temporarily, hanggat satisfactorily at hangga’t maaga maclear ang issues ng favoritism at iba pa,” she added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 14, 2020 10:17 UTC