Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, filed a measure seeking to strengthen transparency in hospital billing by requiring all healthcare providers to issue uniform and itemized statements of charges to patients.
Filed as Senate Bill (SB) 1987, the measure seeks to amend Section 18 of the Universal Health Care Act to address persistent concerns about unclear and inconsistent hospital billing practices in the Philippines.
In his explanatory note, Tulfo said many Filipinos continue to struggle with incomplete and non-standardized hospital billing statements, making it difficult to fully understand the costs of medical treatment.
He also raised concerns over the lack of transparency in certain hospital charges, including professional fees, under the current implementation of the Universal Health Care law.
“The absence of a uniform and itemized billing system not only makes it difficult for patients to understand the costs of their medical care, but also limits oversight,” Tulfo said.
Key provisions of the bill Under the measure, all health care providers would be required to issue a clear and detailed statement of account—whether partial or final—covering all charges incurred during a patient’s treatment.
The bill mandates that billing statements must include hospital or facility fees, laboratory and diagnostic services, medicines, and medical supplies, and professional fees of each attending health care provider, including their name, specialty, and services rendered.
To ensure consistency, the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, will develop a standardized billing format.
Strengthening oversight and patient protection Tulfo emphasized that standardized billing would improve PhilHealth's ability to analyze hospital charging patterns and align reimbursements with actual costs.
Without such data, he said, it remains difficult to determine whether professional fees and other charges are consistent with the benefits covered under the national health insurance program.
The proposed law also seeks to protect patients from unexpected medical expenses by promoting transparency and accountability in the health care system.
The bill is currently pending in the Senate during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress.
If enacted, the measure will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.