By MARK FRANCISCO
ON the occasion of the 29th anniversary of PhilHealth on February 14, the nation’s flagship state-operated health insurance agency has increased its existing case rates by 30 percent to account for inflation in the past decade.
PhilHealth regional vice president for Northern Mindanao Delio Aseron II announced the new packages on the eve of their implementation Tuesday at a press conference at SM CDO Downtown Premier in Cagayan de Oro City.
The press conference also marked the signing of an agreement between PhilHealth and three other regional government agencies so their job order employees could be covered by the Philippines’ universal health program.
Representatives from the regional offices of the Departments of Agriculture; and Trade and Industry; as well as the Philippine Ports Authority signed the memorandum of agreement alongside Aseron in the presence of the media, SM CDO Downtown Premier management representatives and other stakeholders.
According to Aseron during the subsequent press conference, the 30 percent increase will be implemented in selected cases such dengue; chemotherapy for lung, liver, ovarian and prostate cancers; bronchial asthma; and post-kidney and breast transplants.
The coverage will include but not limited to room and board, diagnostic imaging procedures, laboratory/chemistry tests, drugs, medicines, devices, supplies, operating room fees, infection control, health care worker salary and other service fees.
It will also include benefits packages under the United Natons’ Sustainable Development Goals which are the following: TB-DOTS, outpatient HIV-AIDS treatment package, animal bite treatment package, newborn care package and maternity care package.
The new scheme is outlined in PhilHealth Circular 1-2024 which was issued by PhilHealth president Emanuel Ledesma Jr. and signed last January 29.
Even before the implementation of the new adjustments, PhilHealth has already increased its coverages frequency and rates in 2023.
Aseron reported that PhilHealth has increased the number of reimbursed chemodialysis sessions per year from 90 to 156 amounting to P2,600 per session or a total of P456,500.
For ischemic stroke, the reimbursed amount is increased from P28,000 to P76,000; hemorrhagic stroke from P38,000 to P80,000; and pneumonia from P32,000 to P90,100.
The package for mental health outpatients was pegged at P9,000 (general category) and P16,000 (specialty category) inclusive of 12 home-based psychotherapy sessions and free medicines.
Moving forward in 2024, Aseron said PhilHealth will announce soon the implementation guidelines for its two new programs: GAMOT and the severe acute malnutrition package.
PhilHealth GAMOT is one of the agency’s standalone outpatient benefits which covers select essential medicines and shall function as the pharmaceutical service delivery arm within a provider network.
Here in Northern Mindanao, PhilHealth has 115 primary care providers: 34 in Misamis Oriental, 30 in Lanao del Norte, 28 in Bukidnon, 22 in Misamis Occidental and one in Camiguin.
It has a total of 1,964,538 registered PhilHealth members to date in the region.
In PHOTO…
Philhealth. Region X Press Conference at SM CDO Premier
