By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against scammers and fixers who target potential beneficiaries of the governmentโs hospital Zero-Balance Billing (ZBB) program.
In a public advisory on Wednesday,
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stressed in a public advisory on Wednesday that the ZBB program does not involve fixers or intermediaries. He advised patients and their families to coordinate directly with the billing section of DOH hospitals to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
“The DOH does not send text messages about the implementation of the program. There are no fixers involved in Zero-Balance Billing,” he said.
Over 2,000 beneficiaries were able to avail of the ZBB at the East Avenue Medical Center following President Marcosโ announcement during his State of the Nation Address. The program aims to ensure that eligible patients are discharged from DOH hospitals without having to pay out-of-pocket expenses for covered services.
The DOH reiterated that patient information and billing details are handled with full consent from patients, their guardians, and hospital authorities. It urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or groups claiming to offer assistance regarding the ZBB program.