PhilHealth suspends controversial IRM

August 14, 2020

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said it has temporarily suspended of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).

The IRM, a focus of two Senate hearings on alleged corruption, is a cash advance system aimed at enabling hospitals to handle a deluge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.

"PhilHealth announced the suspension of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) to review its overall implementation and resolve issues arising from Congressional inquiries," said PhilHealth.

PhilHealth said it will be evaluating the system and on how it can better help medical facilities in times of crisis.

"PhilHealth vowed to find ways to make the IRM more responsive to the needs of healthcare facilities affected by the current pandemic to assure patients of continuous access to needed health services," said PhilHealth.

The IRM was also used during Typhoon Yolanda, the Marawi siege, and the Taal Volcano eruption, among other calamities.

But the IRM has been tainted with numerous questionable transactions, particularly in the latest allegations of corruption in PhilHealth. DMS