FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 1
SENATE
S. No. 3
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the past decade, Rehabilitation Medicine as a specialty has experienced growth in all aspects.
The number of trainees, graduates, and certified diplomats and fellows has increased
tremendously.
Alarming, however, is the fast pace at which rehabilitation centers have sprouted throughout the
country, all with the noble intent of delivering expert rehabilitative care to Filipinos suffering
from neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other system disorders which
produce temporary or permanent disability. Unfortunately, not all these rehabilitation centers are
rendering what they purport to render.
Moreover, many of these rehabilitation centers are not headed by physiatrist (a medical specialist
who has trained a minimum of 3 years in Rehabilitation Medicine) but by other medical and
allied health .professionals. By the nature of their training, physiatrists are in the best position to
head rehabilitation centers and supervise the allied rehabilitative professionals: physical
therapist, occupational therapists, speech therapist, orthotists, and prosthetists.
In the medical field, it is physiatrist who is the specialist in medical rehabilitation and who is
thus tasked to evaluate and treat patients with physical disabilities from the rehabilitation
standpoint, and to manage and administer Rehabilitation Medicine departments, center, clinics or
other similar facilities.
It is the objective of the proposed Rehabilitation Medicine Standard Act to set standards for the
training and practice of Rehabilitation Medicine and set technical and operational standards for
rehabilitation centers which will function at the highest level of standard and be headed and
supervised by duly trained and certified physiatrists (medical specialists in rehabilitation
medicine) and thereby protect the interest of the Filipino patients who seek treatment from these
centers.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought
A ~ T O N I O"SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV
Senator
1
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 1
SENATE
S. No.2-3 I
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE STANDARD FOR THE PRACTICE OF REHABILlTATION
MEDICINE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in Congress
assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Medical Rehabilitation
2 Standards Act of 200%’!
4 SEC. 2. Declaration ofP01lq~.- It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
5 right to health of the people by an accessible delivery of expert rehabilitative care to Filipinos
6 suffering from neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and other system disorders
7 which produce temporary or permanent disability. This shall be realized by standardizing the
8 practice of Rehabilitation Medicine and standardizing the establishment, management and
9 operational aspects of rehabilitation facilities.
10
11 SEC. 3. Defttillom. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
12 -
a. Rehabilitation Medicine the branch of medicine which deals with the prevention,
13 diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular,
14 pulmonary and other system disorders which produce temporary or permanent
15 disability in patients as well as the performance of different diagnostic procedures,
16 including, but not limited to, electromyography and other electrodiagnostic
1
1 techniques. It also involves specialized medical care and training of patients with loss
2 of function so that s h e may obtain his/ her maximum potential, physically,
3 psychologically, social and vocationally with special attention to prevent unnecessary
4 complications or deterioration and to assist in physiologic adaptation to disability. In
5 addition, the practice of Rehabilitation Medicine uses agents such as heat, light,
6 water, electricity, therapeutic exercise and mechanical agents in its treatment
7 armamentarium.
8 b. Medical Rehabilitation - the process of helping a person to reach the fullest physical,
9 psychological, social, vocational, avocational and educational potential consistent
10 with his or her physiologic or anatomic impairment, environmental limitation and life
11 plans.
12 c. Physiatrist - a physician who is licensed and duly registered with the Professional
13 Regulation Commission and who has completed three years of residency training in
14 Rehabilitation Medicine in a Philippine Board Rehabilitation Medicine-accredited
15 training institution.
16 d. Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) - a non-stock, non-profit
17 corporation, duly recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission and the
18 Philippine Medical Association, composed of Board Certified Rehabilitation
19 Medicine Specialists tasked with accrediting and evaluating training institutions with
20 a specialty in Rehabilitation Medicine, and certifying graduates of these training
21 programs.
22 e. Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner/ Physiatrist - a licensed physician who has
23 completed a residency training program in Rehabilitation Medicine in a Philippine
24 Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) accredited training institution. They shall
25 be qualified by the PBRM as:
2
1 A) Board Eligible Physiatrist - refers to those who have completed the residency
2 training in a PBRM-accredited residency training program but who have not
3 successfully completed the specialty board examination.
4 B) Board Certified (Diplomate) - refers to those who have passed Part I (wnitten)
5 and Part I1 (oral) ofthe Diplomate Board Examination given by the Philippine
6 Board of Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM).
7 f. Rehabilitation Medicine Center/ Facility/ Unit - any facility that renders services for
8 the rehabilitation of physical disabilities. This may be hospital-based or free standing.
9 g. Rehabilitation Medicine Team - a group of medical and allied health professionals
10 concerned with the medical rehabilitation of patients with physical disabilities. The
11 team is headed by a physiatrist and is composed of, but not limited to, the following:
12 1. Physical Therapists
13 2. Occupational Therapists
14 3. Prosthetists And Orthotists
15 4. Rehabilitation Nurses
16 5. Speech Pathologists
17 6 . Social Workers
18 7.Vocational Counselors
19 8. Recreational Therapists
20
21 SEC. 4. Scope ofPmctice. - The practice of Rehabilitation Medicine includes:
22 a. Professional services related to the care of an individual patient, either as a physician
23 primarily responsible for individual patient care or as a consultant to another
24 physician namely:
25 1. History taking, examination of patients andor performance of specific
26 diagnostic procedures for purposes of establishing diagnosis a n d or
3
1 evaluation of disability, impairment, functional capacity and potential for
2 rehabilitation;
3 2. Prescription a n d or rendering of appropriate medical treatment which may
4 include any or all aspects of physical medicine as well as rehabilitative
5 measures, including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy,
6 speech therapy and orthotic and prosthetic services;
7 3. Follow-up examination of patients in offices, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities,
8 extended care facilities or home for purposes of reevaluation and treatment
9 modifications;
10 4.Appropriate consultation with other medical specialists;
11 5. Counseling and conference with non-physician health care professionals or
12 family concerning conduct of patient’s care or patient’s progress; and
13 6 . Examination of patient’s records, preparation of reports Designing/ planning/
14 implementing of health programs for maintenance of health and prevention of
15 disability; and correspondence, appearance in testimony pertaining to patient.
16 b. Professional services related to the administration of rehabilitation facilities or units,
17 namely:
18 1. Professional general supervision of rehabilitation services in a hospital-based
19 rehabilitation center or unit or any other free standing units that render limited
20 rehabilitation services, convalescent home and private homes, for quality
21 assurance and appropriate utilization of services;
22 2. Planning, establishment and management of facilities, equipment and
23 personnel for functions and activities for rehabilitation department or unit, or
24 any other free standing unit that render limited rehabilitation services,
25 convalescent home and private homes, for quality assurance and appropriate
26 utilization of services;
27 3. Maintenance of adequate records and statistics;
4
1 4. Education of physicians and allied health care professionals in Rehabilitation
2 Medicine; both local and abroad, for programs related to Rehabilitation
3 Medicine,
4 5. Education of the public on health care issues pertaining to Rehabilitation
5 Medicine through research and medical education;
6 6. Providing professional development of Rehabilitation Medicine through
7 research and medical education;
8 7. Designingiplanninghrnplementing of health programs for maintenance of
9 health and prevention of disability;
10 8. Linkages with government and non-governmental agencies both local and
11 abroad, for programs related to Rehabilitation Medicine;
12 9. Promotion of the team approach among medical and allied medical health care
13 professionals in the holistic care of patients; Setting standards for
14 compensation of Rehabilitation Medicine services rendered.
15 10. Setting standards for compensation of Rehabilitation medicine services
16 rendered.
17 c. Guidelines for Practice in a Rehabilitation Medicine Facility:
18 1. Every patient shall be examined and diagnosed by a physiatrist. The physiatrist
19 recommends, prescribes and supervises an individual treatment plan. The
20 treatment plan and rehabilitation program shall be regularly reviewed on a
21 team basis.
22 2. Medications and various other therapies shall be prescribed by a physiatrist.
23 3. The physiatrist has the primary responsibility of regularly following patients in
24 his charge and modifying or terminating treatment.
25 4. A physiatrist shall head the facility/unit and shall supervise the delivery of
26 rehabilitation medicine services rendered by other members of the
5
1 Rehabilitation Medicine team. In areas where there is no physiatrist, a
2 licensed physician shall head the facility or unit.
3 5 . If a physiatrist is not competent to manage a patient, he shall consult or refer
4 to another physiatrist or physician specialist who is competent in the particular
5 disease or condition he is treating.
6 6 . A Board Certified physiatrist may head not more than three (3) Rehabilitation
7 Medicine facilities. In the absence of a Board Certified physiatrist, a Board
8 eligible physiatrist may head the facility, provided that he conforms with the
9 requirements of the PBRM.
10 7. The physiatrist shall charge professional fees in accordance with the standards
11 of the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Health Insurance
12 System (PHILHEALTH).
13 8. The physiatrist shall conduct himself in a manner consistent with the Code of
14 Ethics of the Philippine Medical Association.
15 SEC 5. Qualifications to Practice. - A physician is qualified to practice Rehabilitation
16 Medicine if s/ he is a Board Certified Board Eligible physiatrist who is of good moral character
17 and is a member of the Philippine Medical Association.
18
19 -
SEC. 6. Accreditation and Certzycation This Act aims to establish the standards for
20 the practice, and certification of Rehabilitation Medicine practitioners in order to ensure the
21 highest quality of professional rehabilitation service to the public and to the medical community.
22 a. Accreditation of the Physiatrist
23 1. The Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner is a graduate of a Philippine Board of
24 Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) - accredited Rehabilitation Medicine
25 training institution and certified by the PBRM as:
26 1.a. Board certified (Diplomate)
27 1.b. Board Eligible
6
1 2. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner is duly recognized as PBRM Board
2 Certified upon compliance with andor submission of the following
3 requirements:
4 2.a. Authenticated Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID as duly
5 registered physician.
6 2.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM accredited Rehabilitation
7 Medicine training institution.
8 2.c. Certificate from the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine
9 (PBW.
10 3. A Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner is duly recognized as PBRM Board
11 Eligible upon compliance with and/ or submission of the following
12 requirements:
13 3.a. Authenticated Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) I
D as duly
14 registered physician.
15 3.b. Certificate of completion of training in a PBRM accredited Rehabilitation
16 Medicine training institution.
17 3.c. Certificate of eligibility from PBRM
18 4. A. Rehabilitation Medicine Practitioner, who is duly recognized as PBRM
19 Board Eligible, must upgrade himself to PBRM Board Certified status within
20 five (5) years after graduation from a PBRM-accredited Rehabilitation
21 Medicine training institution. Forfeiture of this Board eligibility status is
22 incumbent upon review and evaluation of the PBRM Board of Governors.
23 b. Continuing Certification of the Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist
24 A Certified Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine, in order to be duly
25 recognized as a Rehabilitation Medicine specialist, must undergo recertification every three (3)
26 years through PBRM accreditation.
27
7
1 -
SEC. 7. Technical Standards and Requirements for the Registration, Operation and
2 Maintenance of Rehabilitation Medicine Facilities in the Philippines. - Technical standards
3 and requirements for the registration, operation and maintenance of rehabilitation medicine
4 facilities shall apply to all entities performing the activities and functions of Rehabilitation
5 Medicine facilities. These shall include the evaluation and treatment of all conditions requiring
6 rehabilitation of physical disabilities. These standards and requirements shall be formnlated to
7 protect and promote the health of the people by the operation of standard, properly managed and
8 adequately supported Rehabilitation Medicine facilities.
10 SEC. 8. Regulatory Authority - Technical standards and requirements for the
11 registration, operation and maintenance of Rehabilitation Medicine Facilities in the Philippines
12 shall be implemented and regulated by the Department of Health - Bureau of Health Facilities
13 and Services (DOH-BHFS).
14
15 SEC. 9. Classt$?cationof Facilities - Rehabilitation Medicine facilities shall be classified
16 according to its institutional character, extent of services offered. The bases for the classification
17 of the different categories of Rehabilitation facilities are: ( 1) Physiatrist qualification, (2) Allied
18 Health personnel staff qualification, (3) Rehabilitation Medicine
19 services available and (4) Physical set-up and equipment.
20 a. Categories
21 1. As to institutional character, Rehabilitation Medicine facilities are either hospital-
22 based (if operating within a hospital set-up) or freestanding (if operating on its own
23 or part of a facility other than a hospital).
24 2. As to extent, Rehabilitation Medicine facilities maybe primary, secondary or
25 tertiary, or home-based.
26 3. As to function, a Rehabilitation Medicine facility may be utilized for training,
27 service and research or service alone.
8
1 4. As to service, a Rehabilitation Medicine facility can also be either general or
2 specialized.
3 b. A primary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following:
4 1. At least one (1) Philippine Board Rehabilitation Medicine (PBRM) eligible
5 physiatrist
6 2. At least one (1) allied rehabilitation health professional
7 3. Rehabilitation Medicine Consultation and Management with Physical Therapy
8 services.
9 4. Physical set-up
10 5. Medical consultation area
11 6. Treatment area to include at least an electro therapy device and superficial heating
12 modality and ADL training devices
13 7. Gym area, to include parallel bars, mirror, weights and assistive devices( canes,
14 crutches and walker)
15 8. Evaluation tools
16 9. Adequate utilities (water, electricity and consumables)
17 10. First aid kit with basic CPR equipment
18 c. A secondary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following:
19 1. At least one PBRM Board certified physiatrist
20 2. At least one licensed Physical therapist and Occupational therapist
21 3. Rehabilitation Medicine Consultation and Management, Physical Therapy and
22 Occupational Therapy services
23 4. Compliance with the primary category set-up plus deep heating modality, manual
24 traction and therapeutic exercise equipment for the gym area.
25 d. A tertiary Rehabilitation Medicine facility shall have the following:
26 1. At least one PBRM Board certified physiatrist
27 2. At least one licensed Physical therapist and Occupational therapist
9
1 3. Rehabilitation Medicine Consultation and Management, Physical, Occupational
2 Therapy, Prosthetist/ Orthotist in house or referral services, speech therapy in house
3 or referral services.
4 4. Compliance with the secondary category set-up and equipment, with additional two
5 superficial heating modalities, medium frequency modality, mechanized traction,
6 ultraviolet or cold laser intermittent compression unit, mechanized intermittent
7 traction and tilt table with additional gym equipment.
8 5. A Training/ Service and Research facility, which shall fulfill all the requirements
9 as a residency training institution in accordance with PBRM guidelines.
10 6 . A specialized facility which should cater to subspecialty conditions in
11 Rehabilitation Medicine (Cardiac, Pain, Pediatric, Pulmonruy, Sports, among
12 others.) shall be hospital-based facility with a multi-disciplinary set-up.
13
14 SEC. 10. Management and Operation of a Rehabilitation Medicine FaciliQ. - A
15 Rehabilitation Medicine Facility shall be headed by a Rehabilitation Medicine specialist who is
16 either a Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine Ckrtified or Eligible Rehabilitation
17 Medicine specialist who must assume technical and administrative supervision and control of the
18 activities in the said facility. An adequate and effective system of documentation, recording and
19 records keeping must be maintained for all consultations and services in the facility. The rates for
20 consultation and services shall be in accordance with the standards of the Philippine Medical
21 Association and PHILHEALTH.
22
23 SEC. 11. Application for Registration and Issuance of License. - Applications for
24 registration and issuance of a license shall be filed by the owner or his duly authorized
25 representative with the DOH-Bureau of Health Facilities and Services together with an
26 Information sheet to be filled up by the physiatrist-in-charge. Upon receipt of the said application
27 together with the license fee, a technical committee team will inspect the facility within sixty
10
1 (60) days. Certificates of licenses shall be issued and approved by the Head of the Bureau of
2 Health Facilities and Services. A provisional license may be granted to facilities with insufficient
3 requirements for special cases for a period of one (1) year.
5 SEC. 12. Terms and Valid& of License. - The license to operate will only be valid for a
6 period of two (2) years. Application for renewal of the license shall be made during the last six
7 ( 6 ) months of validity. The license must be placed in a conspicuous place within the facility. A
8 copy of the rules and regulations should also be readily available. Upon violation of the
9 standards provided, a license may be revoked. Investigation of all charges or complaints against
10 a Rehabilitation Medicine facility or any of its personnel shall be made to the PBRM (when
11 complaint is against the physiatrist) and to the Department of Health- Bureau of Health Facilities
12 and Services for appropriate investigation.
13
14 SEC. 13. Penalties. - Any person, partnership, association, or corporation who
15 establishes, operates, conducts, manages or maintains a rehabilitation medicine facility within the
16 meaning of this Act without first obtaining a license or violates any provision of this Act or its
17 Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be liable to a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand
18 Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) but not to exceed Fitly Thousand Pesos (p50,OOO.OO) for the first offense,
19 and not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) but not to exceed One Hundred Thousand
20 Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) for the second offense, and not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
21 (PlOO,OOO.OO), but not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO.OO) for the third and
22 each subsequent offense. Each day that a facility or other related facility shall operate after the
23 first violation shall be considered a subsequent offense. In addition to the penalties specified in
24 the preceding paragraph, the Bureau, upon the approval of the Secretary, may summarily order
25 the closure of any rehabilitation medicine facility found operating without a license.
26
11
1 SEC 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - To implement the provisions of
2 this Act, the Department of Health - Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (DOH-BHFS ), in
3 coordination with the national professional organization duly recognized by the Professional
4 Regulation Commission, shall promulgate the rules and regulations, including the technical
5 standards and requirements for the registration, operation and maintenance of rehabilitation
6 medicine facilities, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
8 SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of the Act shall be held
9 unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected hereby shall continue
10 to be in full force and effect.
11
12 SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with
13 the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
14
15 SEC. 17. Eflectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its approval.
Approved,
12
