Fees Charged in Government Hospitals and Charity Clinics

June 18, 1952

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 747

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE FEES TO BE CHARGED AGAINST PATIENTS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CHARITY CLINICS CLASSIFYING PATIENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR FINANCIAL CONDITION

SECTION 1. For purposes of classifying patients in government hospitals and/or charity clinics, the following shall be the basis, to wit:

(a) Indigent patients. — Those patients, who at the time of their confinement, shall have a total income of less than seventy-five pesos a month, if not married; if he is married or head of a family each additional member shall be given twenty pesos as allowance to the total income of the family but not to exceed one hundred and thirty-five pesos. If he is a member of a family, the total income of the family should not be more than one hundred and thirty-five pesos a month. Said category of patients shall be absolutely free from any and all charges incurred by the hospital during his confinement and such patients shall further have priority in accommodation.

(b) Partial pay patients. — Those patients, who at the time of their confinement, shall have a total income of seventy-five pesos to one hundred and thirty-five pesos a month, if not married; if he is married or head of a family each additional member shall be given twenty pesos as allowance to the total income of the family but not to exceed two hundred pesos. If he is a member of a family, the total income of the family should not be more than two hundred pesos a month. Said category of patients shall pay only the cost of medicines used and the hospitalization fees.

(c) Full pay patients. — Those patients, who at the time of confinement, shall have a total income of more than two hundred pesos, irrespective of whether he or she is single or married and/or head of a family. If he is a member of a family, the total income of the family shall be more than two hundred pesos a month. Said category of patients shall pay not only the medicines used and hospitalization charges but also the professional fees.

SECTION 2. For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby deemed to include:

(a) Medicines. — Drugs used and administered necessary for the cure of the patient.

(b) Hospitalization fee. — Payment of rooms, such as delivery room, nursery room, patient's room, etc. All other fees excluding professional services.

(c) Professional services. — Medical and nursing services.

SECTION 3. The Department of Health shall promulgate such necessary rules and regulations for the due execution of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4. Government employees and members of their families shall be given a reduction of twenty per cent from all hospital fees.

SECTION 5. Any misrepresentation with regard to the true assets of the patient made by himself or his authorized representative shall be fined double the total fees to be charged. cd

SECTION 6. Any government hospital or charity clinic official or employee who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be fined for not more than five hundred pesos and shall be responsible for any damages incurred, aside from whatever administrative action will be proper under the premises.

SECTION 7. The President may, by executive order, change the limitations in the income of admitted patients as set herein, subject to the marked fluctuations of the standard of living at the time of the approval of this Act.

SECTION 8. Any or all provisions of law contrary to this Act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1952

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 48, No. 7 in July 1952