Bill 573.

Summary.

The bill proposes exempting immediate family members of deceased patients from hospital charges and establishing humanitarian financial assistance after a patient’s death. It would apply to hospitals, polyclinics, health centers, and subcenters administered by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Panama (Ministerio de Salud de la República de Panamá). It defines hospital charges as costs for medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, laboratory, or inpatient services; includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, and legally recognized financial dependents as immediate family members; and defines the assistance as a state monetary subsidy.

The exemption would apply after the patient’s death is verified and the family undergoes a socioeconomic assessment, without judicial proceedings. The hospital would record the death officially, issue an internal exemption decision, and notify an immediate family member within fifteen (15) business days. The bill would prohibit state hospital institutions from demanding or attempting to collect hospital charges from the deceased patient’s family members or heirs.

To request the exemption and financial assistance, family members would submit to the hospital or the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) an authenticated copy of the death certificate, the applicant’s identity card, and proof of kinship or financial dependence. Applicants seeking additional financial assistance would also submit a sworn statement of family income. The bill excludes patients treated in private hospitals, deaths occurring outside the national territory, cases in which private medical insurance or policies cover hospital expenses, and patients insured by or beneficiaries of the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social). It also excludes persons proven responsible for the patient’s death and lists voluntary payment by acquaintances or others close to the deceased as an exclusion.

The Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), in coordination with the Ministry of Health, would grant eligible family members a single subsidy for hospital medical expenses or funeral expenses. Social outreach workers or social workers would conduct the socioeconomic assessment under the implementing regulations. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would determine the subsidy’s budget allocation by regulation according to annual budget availability. The Ministry of Health would settle outstanding accounts for the deceased patient’s medical services and supplies after verifying the requirements. Every application, approval, and payment would be recorded in the Integrated Financial Administration System (Sistema Integrado de Administración Financiera, SIAFPA), under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República).

Funding would come from budget allocations to MINSA and MIDES, the National Treasury (Tesoro Nacional), and donations, bequests, or transfers from national and international organizations. The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic would audit the resources annually; the Ministry of Health, MIDES, the Office of the Comptroller General, and the National Treasury would coordinate implementation and oversight. The Executive Branch would issue implementing regulations within ninety (90) days after promulgation. Public officials who unjustifiably fail to carry out or delay the established procedures would face sanctions under the Public Administration Disciplinary Regime (Régimen Disciplinario de la Administración Pública). The proposed law would take effect the day after promulgation. Its provisions concern the named public entities, state health facilities, deceased patients’ families and heirs, private insurers, and funeral services.