Bill binds hospitals, other healthcare providers to display price list

Press Release
November 5, 2010

QUEZON CITY  –  House Deputy Majority Leader and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo is pushing for new legislation requiring hospitals and other healthcare providers to clearly display in their premises a price list of all their services and products.

The mandatory posting of an exact price list, as proposed by Romulo in House Bill 3560, would cover hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic and laboratory clinics, medical offices and other facilities that provide healthcare, including dental services.

"This gives more meaning to the State's avowed policy in The Consumer Act to protect the interests and general welfare of buyers, and to establish the standards of conduct for business and industry," Romulo said.

Romulo said a totally transparent and readily available price index would safeguard consumers against potentially misleading and unfair sales acts and practices, and facilitate sound choice by end users of hospitalization and other healthcare services.

"Patients invariably get billed for almost every item they consume while undergoing treatment in hospitals and other healthcare facilities," he pointed out.

"In some cases, without their prior knowledge, hospital patients even end up paying for the flimsiest expense, such as the extra cotton balls or toilet paper they consume," he added.

A price schedule would enable patients to freely decide where best to obtain some of their hospital supplies, according to Romulo.

"For instance, once the patient becomes aware that he could get charged for hospital toilet paper that is five times more expensive, then he might just opt to bring his own supply," he said.

Once Romulo's bill is enacted, every healthcare facility would be required to produce and visibly exhibit a detailed price catalogue of all services and supplies.

The price list would include all incidental expenses such as charges for room and amenities, meals, medicines, and use of medical equipment and technology.

Violators face fines up to P25,000 per instance, without prejudice to administrative sanctions.

If the offender is a firm, it faces a fine up to P50,000 per instance, plus suspension or revocation of its permit to operate.

The firm's officers directly responsible for the infraction also face fines and suspension or cancellation of their professional licenses. If applicable, they likewise face up to one year in prison.