BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, more commonly known as Philhealth, expressed gratitude to its partners and stakeholders and calls for a continuing partnership in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Policy and towards the achievement of Universal Health Care.
Philhealth Regional Office-Cordillera headed by Regional Vice President Dr. Dominga Gadgad conducted a Stakeholders’ Pasasalamat Awarding Ceremony in Baguio City on November 5, to showcase and honor their dedicated partners who have consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to the National Health Insurance Program.
Recognized in the event include local government units, hospitals, clinics, rural health units, regional line agencies, primary health care facilities and private employers, among others.
“Let this serve as a reminder of the impact we create when we work together. Each of you here today plays a crucial role in making healthcare more equitable and inclusive in the people of Cordilleras. Together, let’s continue to make a difference in the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” Gadgad said.
Philhealth Senior Vice President for the Health Finance Policy Sector Israel Francis Pargas called for a continuing partnership in providing financial risk protection to the Filipino people.
“We would like to thank our stakeholders and all our partners for participating in the National Health Insurance Program. We also want them to continue this partnership to have a collaboration in the implementation of the Universal Health Care’, Pargas said.
Pargas also assured that Philhealth remains committed in its mandate to provide financial risk protection.
“Makakaasa po ang ating mga stakeholders na patuloy pa rin po ang pagpapalawak na ang ating mga beneficiaries,” Pargas said.
In presenting the enhanced Philhealth benefits under the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Pargas shared that in 2023,among the highlights were the institutionalization of 156 hemodialysis sessions, and rationalizing of case rates for Acute Stroke and pneumonia high risk, Outpatient benefits package for mental health, Philhealth Outpatient Drug Benefit Package, Z benefits for colon and rectal cancers and selected orthopedic implants.
For 2024, Philhealth implemented the 30 percent increase for Case Rates; benefit packages for breast cancer, neonatal sepsis and bronchitis asthma; Konsulta Expansion, hemodialysis rate increase, outpatient therapeutic care services for severe acute malnutrition, Philhealth Plus, adjusted rates for benefit package for COVID-19 inpatient, and dengue hemorrhagic fever severe.
Also being developed for this year are services for physical and medical rehabilitation, chemotheraphy, ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction (enhancement) and another round of increase for case rates benefits, he added.
For 2025, Pargas shared they are looking forward to the full implementation of the Philhealth packages in ST elevation myocardial infraction, emergency care, kidney transplantation, prostate cancer, cervical cancer and open heart surgeries.
Set for policy publication in 2025 are the Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package (Konsulta Plus) pilot implementation in select sites, diagnosis related groups, children with disabilities, assistive device, Z benefits), and heart valve surgery (single valve replacement). (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
