THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to increase its coverage of outpatient hemodialysis sessions as it rolls outs expanded coverage and benefits for its members.
PhilHealth acting president and chief executive officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. said the number of covered outpatient hemodialysis sessions will now be increased to 156 from the current 90 sessions.
“Sa pamamagitan ng expanded coverage na ito para sa outpatient hemodialysis, masusuportahan na po natin ang buong tatlong sessions kada linggo sa loob ng isang buong taon. Ibinase po ng PhilHealth ang increase na ito batay sa standards ng adequate dialysis na nangangailangan ng tatlong 4-hour sessions per week para sa stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (With the expanded coverage for outpatient hemodialysis, the PhilHealth coverage will now include the entire three sessions per week for one year.
PhilHealth based its decision on standard dialysis requirements of three 4-hour sessions per week for stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients),” Ledesma said.
Ledesma said the state health insurer is on track to roll out new benefits, including its outpatient mental health package and outpatient therapeutic care package for severe acute malnutrition for children under five years old.
He added the agency will likewise launch the PhilHealth mobile app with text message confirmations “so in the very near future, your health care will just be a few taps away.”
The PhilHealth chief said they are also strengthening the PhilHealth Konsulta Package, where members are assigned to an accredited Konsulta provider whom they can consult for their healthcare requirements.
The PhilHealth Konsulta Package is a primary care benefit which members can use to avail of basic services such as check-up, health screening and assessment, laboratory, x-ray and medicines.
“We are committed to continuously improve the benefits we offer and make them more responsive, accessible, and convenient to the Filipino people,” Ledesma said.
Likewise, Ledesma said PhilHealth is planning to rationalize its COVID-19 in-patient packages, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests as well as isolation packages.
“We are also planning to rationalize select in-patient case rates, including moderate and high-risk pneumonia and acute ischemic and hemorrhagic, as these are the most common cases availed in recent years according to our records,” he added.
