BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)  is enhancing its health insurance benefit packages  including  expanding  coverage to other illnesses and health concerns, in line with the goals of the Universal Health Care Law.
 
PhilHealth – Cordillera Regional Vice President Dr. Dominga Gadgad, in a Kapihan media forum  shared  that the hemodialysis package for chronic kidney disease was  increased from 90 to 156 session, which covers up to  three session per week  for a total of P405,600 worth of treatment per year.
 
PhilHealth package for ischemic stroke was also increased from P28,000 to 70,000; hemorrhagic stroke package from P38,000 to P80,000, and high risk pneumonia from P30,000 to P90,100.

Philhealth is also set to increase all the case rates by up to a maximum of 30 percent, and will also enhance the Z Benefits Package (breast, prostate and cervical cancers and open – heart surgery for children), Gadgad said.

For other new benefits, Philhealth  has  now outpatient benefit package for mental health, which covers P9,000 for general mental health services,  and P16,000 for specialty mental health services.

Gadgad also reported about the PhilHealth KonSulTa (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) Package for  the primary health care  of  members and their dependents.  This  covers initial and follow -up consultations, health risk screening and assessment, 13 essential laboratory tests, and 21 maintenance drugs and medicines in line with their pre-existing conditions in accredited Philhealth  Konsulta providers .

Philhealth members and their beneficiaries just need to register in any accredited KonSulta package provider of their choice, and have their first patient encounter to avail of free primary health care services. They can register simply with  their PhilHealth identification number, Gadgad said. 

As of December 31, 2023,  there are already 98 accredited KonSulta package providers in the Cordillera region which include health centers and public and private health facilities. There are 17 in Abra, eight in Apayao, 16 in Baguio City, 13 in Ifugao, 14 in Kalinga and 14 in Mountain Province.

Gadgad also announced that Philhealth will soon cover the first P9,000 essential outpatient medications of members and their dependents  with the PhilHealth GAMOT (Guaranteed Access to medicines for Outpatient Treatment)  through a network of contracted public/private drug dispensing facility.

PHilhealth will also include  soon  outpatient therapeutic care for severe acute malnutrition or SAM. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)