Further Amending Memorandum Circular No. 2001-01

May 25, 2001

NAPOLCOM MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 06-01

FURTHER AMENDING MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2001-01 ENTITLED "AMENDING THE RULES GOVERNING BENEFIT CLAIMS OF EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION"

WHEREAS, on February 7-10, 2001 the Commission conducted a seminar-workshop for the National Appellate Board, Regional Appellate Boards, legal officers, chiefs of regional investigation units and NAPOLCOM investigators held at Elegant Hotel, Baguio City. HTcADC

WHEREAS, one of the workshops dealt on the issues and concerns confronting the investigation and adjudication of PNP and NAPOLCOM benefit claims.

WHEREAS, the participants were able to identify certain issues and problems and accordingly submitted the course of action to be undertaken.

NOW THEREFORE, the Commission in the exercise of its powers under the law HEREBY RESOLVED TO AMEND AS IT HEREBY AMENDS Memorandum Circular No. 2001-01, to wit:

SECTION 1. Section 1 (c) of Rule II is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 1. Terms Defined. — For purposes of these Rules, the following terms shall be understood as:

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c. Disability — loss or impairment of the normal functions of the physical (such as visual problems of the eyes that would require eyeglasses) or mental faculties of an employee which reduces his/her capability to continue with his present employment."

SECTION 2. The third paragraph of Section 8 of Rule V is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 8. Committee on Claims. — There is created in this Commission a Committee on Claims with the primary task of evaluating the merits and service-connection of claims for benefits of employees of the Commission and subsequently making the appropriate recommendation to the Vice Chairman and Executive Officer. It shall be composed of the following:

1. Any senior official of the Commission;

2. The Director of the Legal Affairs Service;

3. The Director of the Personnel and Administrative Service; and

4. The Compensation Rating Officer or Clinic Physician.

During the evaluation proceedings, the Committee on Claims shall determine whether the claim is service-connected, the reasonableness of medical and hospital expenses, the restoration of deducted leave credits and such other matters relevant to judicious adjudication of the claim. On the basis of such evaluation, the appropriate recommendation either for approval or disapproval of the claim shall be submitted to the Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer. CAIHTE

Should a serious question on the compensability of a claim arise, the Committee on Claims may direct the Investigation, Monitoring and Inspection Service to conduct the necessary inquiry, and forthwith, submit the corresponding Report of Investigation (ROI). Said ROI shall be forwarded to the Committee on Claims as part of the records of the claim. Any conflict between the opinion of the Compensation RatingOfficer as against the findings/recommendation of the attending physician or the assigned investigator shall be referred by the Committee on Claims to the Commission En Banc for its resolution."

SECTION 3. Section 1 of Rule VIII is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 1. Hospital Room Rate. — Employees of the Commission who sustained injury or ailment in line of duty may seek confinement in any government or private hospital provided that hospital room rate shall not exceed One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1,500.00 ) per day except in the following cases:. . ."

SECTION 4. Section 1 (c) of Rule VIII is hereby amended to read as follows:

"c. In cases of emergency when the patient needs to be brought to a nearest hospital or admitted to the intensive care unit, the cheapest room available must be chosen. As soon as the patient's condition improves or when the emergency ceases to exist, the patient must be transferred to a room with a rate of not more than One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1,500.00) Pesos per day. Otherwise, the excess shall be borne by the patient;

SECTION 5. The second paragraph of Section 5 of Rule VIII is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 5. Limitation on Reimbursement of Expenses. — The Commission shall reimburse to the employee who suffered injury or contracted sickness while in the performance of official duty all necessary medical, surgical and hospital services, as the nature, seriousness, difficulty and complication of the injury or sickness may require.

Payment of necessary medicines, drugs, and other medical preparation duly prescribed by a physician for continuing treatment of employee's ailment which have been previously adjudicated as service-connected shall be allowed: Provided, That the same shall not be more than the "retail price" prevailing in the local drug stores: Provided, Further, That request for payment must be properly supported by official receipts, duly dated, numbered, and with corresponding doctor's prescription duly validated by the Compensation Rating Officer or Clinic Physician: and Provided finally, that the Commission shall reimburse only reasonable, necessary and relevant professional and medical expenses. aScITE

For catastrophic cases requiring continuous medication, treatment, management, etc. such as chemotheraphy and/or radiation theraphy, dialysis, rehabilitation and other analogous cases, the actual and reasonable medical expense incurred may be reimbursed, upon certification of the urgency and necessity of such treatment and/or management thereof by the Compensation Rating Officer or the Clinic Physician.

In all cases, the employee concerned shall be considered as permanently and totally disabled if the impairment has persisted for a period exceeding six (6) months, without fixed healing period and renders the employee incapable of performing his duties and functions; Provided, that in case the disability is found to be permanent beyond doubt upon medical examination of said employee, the waiting period of six (6) months may be waived."

Approved, this 25th day of MAY, in the Year Two Thousand And One in Makati City, Philippines.

(SGD.) JOSE DAVID LINA, JR.Chairperson, NAPOLCOM

(SGD.) EDGAR DULA TORRESCommissioner

(SGD.) JOSE PERCIVAL L. ADIONGCommissioner

(SGD.) ROGELIO A. PUREZACommissioner

(SGD.) LEANDRO R. MENDOZACommissioner

(SGD.) LINDA L. MALENAB-HORNILLACommissioner

Attested by:

(SGD.) BERNARDO C. CALIBOBoard Secretary