What should you do if you are unable to pay your hospital bills? Does the hospital administrator have the right to detain a patient for non-payment?
Getting sick is now considered a luxury because of the expenses that it incurs once you get hospitalized. It puts a dent in your wallet as you need to pay for the hospitalization bills. When you are unprepared for this type of emergency situation, it might seem difficult to get out of it without facing the serious consequences especially if it involves money.
There are many stories involving patients who are prohibited to leave the hospital premises unless they settle the unpaid hospital bill. Patients are left with no choice but to follow the rules. However, there is a better way to settle matters such as executing a promissory note. This should be secured by a guarantee of a co-maker or a mortgage.
This action is in accordance with the Republic Act No. 9439.
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic in the country to detain or to otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention of patients who have fully or partially recovered or have been adequately attended to or who may have died, for reasons of nonpayment in part or in full of hospital bills or medical expenses.
SEC. 2. Patients who have fully or partially recovered and who already wish to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are financially incapable to settle, in part or in full, their hospitalization expenses, including professional fees and medicines, shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic, with a right to demand the issuance of the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent papers required for the release of the patient from the hospital or medical clinic upon the execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be secured by either a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation. In the case of a deceased patient, the corresponding death certificate and other documents required for interment and other purposes shall be released to any of his surviving relatives requesting for the same: Provided, however, That patients who stayed in private rooms shall not be covered by this Act.
SEC. 3. Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible for releasing patients, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one month, but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court.
SEC. 4. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
