MAASIN CITY (PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased to 156 sessions its benefit package for patients with kidney ailments that needed hemodialysis treatment, according to Dr. Rosario Suyom, healthcare division chief at PhilHealth regional office.
From 90 sessions, this has gone up to 144 sessions, and, lately, up to 156 sessions, Soyum reported in a powerpoint presentation during a press conference organized by PhilHealth on Tuesday, August 2, held at the SP building, second floor, capitol grounds, this city.
As of the latest count, until June 30, 2023, some 7,827 patients in Southern Leyte have availed of PhilHealth’s hemodialysis benefit, with an equivalent processed claims amounting to P30,549,000 and this represented 14% of total claims for the entire Region 8, Soyum shared.
In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the hemodialysis treatment increase to 156 sessions in a year.
In addition to the policy implementing a rise in treatment sessions, PhilHealth paid P2,600 per session to an accredited wellness center or hospital for every member, inclusive of using the facility, the dialysis machine, and related collaterals, including professional fee, Soyum further said.
She also clarified that the 45-day limit for confinement at a hospital is not included in counting the 156 sessions if ever the PhilHealth member who needed dialysis was the one admitted, because dialysis claims are filed separately.
Other PhilHealth regional officials joining the press conference and discussing other programs and services included Acisclo Militante Jr., Earl Aldwin Young, Regional Vice Preident Ronald Jabay, and Misael Paigan, Philhealth local health insurance officer. (LDL/MMP with IG and MGS/PIA-Southern
