00:01The Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation are open to reducing the state insurer's premium contribution rate.
00:08DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo told the Senate Committee on Health and Demography the two agencies do not object to reducing the PhilHealth premium rate to 3.5 from 5%.
00:18Both chambers of Congress have proposed changes to the Universal Health Care Act, including lowering the contribution rate.
00:25The Senate version, which was passed in August last year, suggests cutting the premium rates to 3.25%.
00:32Meanwhile, the House of Representatives version, passed in February, proposes reducing it to 3.5%.
00:38The Finance Department earlier said it was against the rate cut and suggested that PhilHealth focus on improving its benefit packages instead.
00:46The Economic Group Action for Economic Reforms also asked the Senate to delay passing the bill, concerned that cutting the rate could harm the country's health system.
