PRIVATE hospitals in the Philippines are "optimistic" to the idea of making the Medicare and Medicaid system of the United States "portable" so that it can be used in the Philippine health care system.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Eric Lachica, an advocate of making Medicare portable to the Philippines, said that they had a "very good" second round of negotiations with private hospitals and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).

"We are developing our partnerships and creating critical mass to create the conditions to welcome our elderly Filipino Americans and their spouses when they choose to retire permanently here in the homeland," Lachica said.

He added that the discussions with the hospitals were "optimistic," especially with the thrust of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his advisers to welcome elderly Filipino Americans and overseas Filipino workers.

Among the hospitals the CFO and Lachica's group talked to include The Medical City, AC Health, Makati Medical Center, and the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines.

Currently, US Medicare and Medicaid benefits can be used in the Philippines for up to six months after arrival in the country, but US House Bill 7442 was filed to seek a feasibility study on the use of Medicare and Medicaid benefits in the Philippines.

Mariela Fletcher of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations said that Medicare portability is a "must" to enable senior citizens who choose to retire in the country to receive care at a cheaper price.

She added that this could boost the country's drive to medical tourism.

Lachica said that the cost of medical procedures in the Philippines is around 35 percent to 50 percent cheaper than in the United States, which could entice not only retirees, but also permanent residents who want to receive health care in the country.

CFO Chairman Dante Ang II said that the passage of the US measure is a "worthy campaign." "If we would reach out to the community in the US, it is worth mentioning to their local representatives this coming Congressional session and given the Trump Administration's saving for taxpayer's money, it would be a win-win solution for the United States and the Philippines," Ang said.