Section 41. Transitory Provision.—
Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the Philippines shall appoint the new members of the Board and the President of PhilHealth. The existing board of directors shall serve in a hold-over capacity until a full and permanent board of directors of PhilHealth is constituted and functioning.
All officers and personnel of PhilHealth, except members of the Board who shall be governed by the first paragraph of this section, shall continue to perform their duties and responsibilities and receive their corresponding salaries and benefits. The approval of this Act shall not cause any demotion in rank or diminution of salary, benefits and other privileges of the incumbent personnel of PhilHealth: Provided, That qualified officers and personnel may voluntarily elect for retirement or separation from service and shall be entitled to the benefits under existing laws.
All affected officers and personnel of the PCSO shall be absorbed by the agency without demotion in rank or diminution of salary, benefits and other privileges: Provided, That qualified officers and personnel of the agency may voluntarily elect for retirement or separation from service based on PCSO Board-approved Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP), utilizing internally-generated funds, or savings from its operating fund: Provided, finally, That the retirement benefit package shall be reasonable and within the bounds of existing laws.
In the first six (6) years from the enactment of this Act, the National Government shall provide technical and financial support to selected LGUs that commit to province-wide integration, subject to further review after the lapse of six (6) years: Provided, That in the first three (3) years from the enactment of this Act, the province-wide and city-wide systems shall exhibit managerial integration: Provided, further, That within the next three (3) years thereafter, the province-wide and city-wide systems shall exhibit financial integration: Provided, finally, That upon positive recommendation by an independent study commissioned by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Universal Health Care of the overall benefit of province-wide integration and the positive recommendation of the Secretary of Health, all local health systems shall be integrated as prescribed by Section 19 of this Act through the issuance of an Executive Order by the President.
In the first ten (10) years from the enactment of this Act, PhilHealth may outsource certain functions to ensure operational efficiency and towards the fulfillment of this Act: Provided, That any outsourcing shall comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its IRR.
In the first three (3) years from the enactment of this Act, PhilHealth and DOH shall provide reasonable financial and licensing incentives to contracted health care facilities to form health care provider networks. Thereafter, these incentives shall be withdrawn and providers shall be fully subject to the provisions of Section 19 of this Act.
The HTAC under the DOH shall be established within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the existing health benefit package shall be rationalized within two (2) years from the establishment of the HTAC.
Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, all private insurance companies and HMOs, together with DOH and PhilHealth, shall have developed a system of co-payment that complements PhilHealth benefit packages.
Within ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act, only those who have been certified by the DOH and PRC to be capable of providing primary care will be eligible to be a primary care provider.
For the first two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, the PCSO shall transfer at least fifty percent (50%) of the forty percent (40%) of the charity fund per year, in accordance with Section 37(c) of this Act, to enable the PCSO to conclude and liquidate its Individual Medical Assistance Program At-Source-ang-Processing (IMAP-ASAP) obligations.