Amendment of Memorandum Circular No. 07 Series of 2018

August 10, 2018

DSWD MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 020-18

 

I. RATIONALE

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was tasked by the President to manage and implement the Php1 Billion medical assistance fund to indigent patients sourced from the Socio Civic Project Fund of the Office of the President witch shall be disbursed under a program hereafter be known as LINGAP AT GABAY PARA SA MAY SAKIT or LINGAP SA MASA.

MC No. 07 Series of 2018 was an expansion of the programs coverage of assistance, thus, the need to amend the program's guidelines is necessary to reflect the following:

II. SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS

A. DESCRIPTION OF LINGAP SA MASA PROGRAM

The previous coverage of the program is limited to medicine, hence the description will now read as follows: LINGAP SA MASA will provide assistance to medicine, prosthesis, medical and assistive devices, medical supplies, medical implants, laboratory/diagnostic/radiology procedure, chemotherapy and dialysis. Clients and beneficiaries' eligibility will be assessed and assistance is provided via the issuance of guarantee letters.

B. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The item VI, no. 2 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2. If the patient has a representative, any valid ID of the representative and a written authorization signed by the patient in favor of the representative. However, the immediate family of the patient up to the second degree of consanguinity is not required to present an authorization letter;

C. OPERATIONAL RULES

The item VI.B. is hereby amended to include the following provisions as follows:

5. However, the three month's rule will not apply for patients who are required to take medication and/or laboratory procedure regularly, in which the program social worker shall facilitate and prioritize the immediate availment of the services under the program. Justification from the medical doctors/physicians and social services unit shall be attached as basis for provision of additional assistance.

6. The Medical Assistance Program of DOH, PhilHealth and government mandated assistance shall not anymore charge expenses to Lingap sa Masa Program for those who have already received medical assistance or have charged particular medicines, diagnostic laboratory procedures and tests to PCSO.

D. GENERAL POLICIES OR GUIDELINES FOR DISBURSEMENT OF ASSISTANCE

The paragraph of no. 1 under item VII is hereby amended to read as follows:

1. The patient or his/her representative shall present the doctor's prescription of medicine, prosthesis, medical and assistive devices, medical supplies, medical implants, laboratory/diagnostic/radiology procedure, chemotherapy and dialysis to the pharmacy, central supply, and laboratory of the hospital respectively or to the partner drugstores, partner medical supplies store, laboratory/diagnostics, dialysis centers, and other medical service providers.

E. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The paragraph on item VIII.2. 3rd and 5th roles and functions of specific office is hereby amended to read as follows:

• Conduct an orientation for Service Providers on the extent and veracity of the Program, and forge Memoranda of Agreement with partner hospitals, pharmacies and drug stores, laboratories and diagnostics centers/clinic;

• Facilitate payment to partner government hospitals, pharmacies and drug stores, laboratories and diagnostic centers/clinic subject to pertinent accounting and auditing rules;

Partner Hospitals, Pharmacies and Drug Stores is hereby amended to read as follows:

Partner Hospitals, Pharmacies and Drug Stores, and Other Medical Service providers

The DSWD Field Offices may forge Memoranda of Agreement with government partner hospitals, pharmacies, other drug stores, and shall also add other medical service provider for the effective and timely implementation of LINGAP SA MASA program.

F. FUND MECHANISM

The DSWD Central Office shall download the funds to the selected Field Offices, which shall be responsible for ensuring payment to the identified government hospitals, pharmacies and partner drug stores, and other medical service provider.

All other provisions of MC 07, Series 2018 not affected by the amendment shall remain in full force and effect.

This circular takes effect immediately. Issued this 10th day of August 2018.

(SGD.) VIRGINIA N. OROGOActing Secretary