TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has embarked on aggressive benefit package rate enhancements for various major medical treatment needs.
Regional Vice President Llewelyn R. Binasoy said the hemodialysis package has been expanded from 90 to 156 sessions, which effectively covers the standard three-times-a-week sessions needed by a Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 (CKD5) patient for one year.
“We have increased coverage per session by 54 percent, from P2,600 to P4,000, for a total of P624,000 from P405,600 per year per patient,” Binasoy said.
He also mentioned that coverage for hemorrhagic stroke has doubled from P38,000 to P90,100, while the Z benefits for colon and rectal cancer, as well as select orthopedic implants, have also been increased.
In addition, Binasoy stated that the PhilHealth board approved the enhancement of package rates for physical and medical rehabilitation, severe dengue, chemotherapy, emergency care, cataract extraction, and more Z benefit packages such as peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplantation, prostate and cervical cancers, and open-heart surgeries for children, as well as COVID-19 benefits.
“All these developments underscore PhilHealth’s unceasing commitment to providing health insurance coverage and ensuring affordable, acceptable, available, and accessible health care services for all Filipinos,” he said.
Regarding the implementation of the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) package, he mentioned that the PhilHealth Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program has also been expanded, with 32 more essential drugs and medicines added to the existing 21.
“We urge everyone to register with a Konsulta provider of their choice and avail themselves of this service. Free maintenance medicines for patients with asthma, diabetes, hypertension, among others, and recommended laboratory tests will also be provided by your provider,” he added.
He also revealed that the PhilHealth board approved an increase in the budget per patient for Konsulta from P500 to P1,700 per beneficiary. (OTB/PIA Region 2)
