
21 PhilHealth execs sued over ghost dialysis

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a string of charges against 21 officials and employees of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in connection with the controversial ghost dialysis treatment scam.
In a press conference, NBI Deputy Director Vicente de Guzman III said the Philhealth officials were charged with violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic 10606 or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The respondents were members of the Accreditation Sub-Committee from PhilHealth Regional Office National Capital Region(PRO-NCR).
They are:
1. Dr. Rizza Majella L. Herrera
2. Dr. Bernadette C. Lico
3. Dr. Janice Gem P. Perlas
4. Dr. Leilani Cherillina Joy V. Asprer
5. Dr. Rofien Ison
6. Dr. Manuel Lampitoc
7. Atty. Recto M. Panti
8. Mr. Henry V. Almanon
9. Dr. Jeffrey C. Pe
10. Ms. Cheryl P. Welan
11. Ms. Lolita V. Tuliao
12. Dr. Quintin T. Callueng
13. Atty. Mary Grace G. Delos Santos
14. Ms. Maricel Maglalang
15. Ms. Susan Rebecca Romero
16. Ms. Yvonne A. Fernandez
17. Dr. Katrina Marie J. Aguilar
18. Dr. Cynthia P. Camacho
19. Dr. Imelda Trinidad De Vera-Pe
20. Dr. Arsenio D. Alcantara
21. Dr. Letecia Gay D. Aguda
According to de Guzman, the respondents allegedly approved the 2019 accreditation of WellMed Dialysis and Treatment Center despite investigation by the PhilHealth’s Fact-Finding Investigation and Enforcement Department into the allegedly fraudulent claims of the company.
“PRO-NCR did not conduct periodic monitoring of the Health Care Institution (HCI), as in this case WellMed,” said de Guzman.
Periodic monitoring means conducting utilization review and/or visitation of the facility by the inspecting team.
Despite a recommendation to withdraw WellMed’s accreditation, the PhilHealth’s Accreditation Sub-Committee still processed its claims, the NBI said.