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| Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office National Capital Region and Rizal Vice President Dr. Bernadette Lico (right) joins the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas with Philippine Information Agency National Capital Region (PIA NCR) Senior Information Officer Jenny Red (left) to share the new and improved benefit packages for preventive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare services of the state health insurer towards the realization of Universal Health Care (UHC). |
by: Janna Pineda
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to launch new benefit packages that will improve the delivery of patient-centered healthcare services in hospitals as part of its priority programs in 2025.
The new benefit packages will primarily cater to Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) through the Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package (COBP). Z Benefit Packages, meanwhile, will also expand the coverage for Heart Valve Surgery, Assistive Devices of Children with Disabilities, Kidney Transplantation, Prostate cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Open Heart Surgeries, among others.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas (KsBP) media forum on Tuesday, February 11, PhilHealth National Capital Region Office Vice President Dr. Bernadette Lico highlighted the continuing efforts of the state health insurer to deliver on its commitment to improve the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) for the realization of Universal Health Care (UHC) at grassroots level.
“We are focused on maintaining critical services–inpatient care, outpatient consultations, and preventive health programs, especially for those who need them most, minimizing the impact of any funding challenges,” said Lico.
It can be recalled that PhilHealth launched a total of thirteen (13) new and enhanced benefit packages in 2024. These include the benefit package for hemodialysis which increased to P6,350 for 156 sessions annually from the previous P2,600 case rate for the same number of sessions.
The enhancements to the Konsulta + Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Related Package also significantly increased from P900 to P2,100 budget per patient rate with the inclusion of Outpatient Anti-Tuberculosis or TB DOTS, Malaria, HIV/AIDS (OHAT), and Animal Bites.
Other notable enhancements in the benefit package of PhilHealth were also implemented in the case rates for severe dengue hemorrhagic fever, COVID-19 inpatient benefits, kidney transplantation, ischemic heart disease, peritoneal dialysis, and cataract extraction.
In addition, the newest benefit packages of PhilHealth integrated preventive to curative and rehabilitative care with the implementation of benefit packages for outpatient emergency care, preventive oral health services in primary care, as well as the physical medicine, and rehabilitation, and assistive devices.
This February, the Filipino nation is enjoined in the observance of National Health Insurance Month which aims to further instill the importance of comprehensive social health insurance to protect communities from the financial burdens that come with illness and hospitalization.
“As we celebrate National Health Insurance Month, we urge all Filipinos to join us in promoting the importance of social health insurance and work together to ensure everyone has access to necessary healthcare,” Lico added.
The advancement of social health insurance programs closely aligns with the guarantee of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. that PhilHealth services will not be reduced and instead will increase for the benefit of more Filipinos.
The Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas is a nationwide media forum spearheaded by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to bring timely, relevant, and accurate information about government programs and services to grassroots communities nationwide. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
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