MikeLigalig.com

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

False claims on hospitalization payments made on the Blue Card program are exposed as city lawmakers ask for a full-blown inquiry into the reported padding of hospital bills.

City Health Officer Dr. Antonio Porticos revealed to the Chronicle yesterday that investigations are ongoing on the alleged padding by the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative (Coop Hospital) as exposed by a Blue Card beneficiary.

The Coop Hospital is among three hospitals accredited under the city's Blue Card program which includes the Gov. Celestino Gallares Regional Hospital and Englewood Hospital.

The case stemmed from a report made by one Anastacia Bertumen, an employee of Coop Hospital, who revealed in a letter to City Mayor Dan Lim and Porticos that she availed of the Blue Card Hospitalization program sometime last May to pay for her maintenance medicines costing a little over P2,000.

The medicines were taken from the Coop Hospital, Bertumen claimed.
          
However, Bertumen alleged she found out from fellow employees at the Coop Hospital that the city government paid P50,000 out of her Blue Card to the Coop Hospital.

Bertumen verified the information since the amount was so huge compared to her account which is only around P2,000.

Accordingly, in a letter submitted by Bertumen to the city mayor and the city health officer, she was denied by hospital authorities access about the details on why the amount is so huge.

according to Atty. lavaria, dugay na kuno ni nga anomaliya but gi-sure nila ang investigation to really point to real culprit.