THE Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has received P22.8 million from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as initial reimbursement for claims for patients who were treated for Ischemic Heart Disease – Acute Myocardial Infarction (IHD-AMI), a disease commonly known as heart attack.
PGH medical director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said the amount was turned over by PhilHealth last April 11, just three months after the state insurer increased the covered cost for the benefit package for heart-related ailments.
Legaspi said the amount represented the claims of at least 77 heart attack patients treated at the PGH as of March this year.
“Sa ibinigay pong pagkakataon na ma-improve ang service to heart attack patients, record high ang ating serbisyo — wala na pong charity na heart attack patient ngayon. Iyan ang improvement na gusto nating makita
(We no longer have charity heart attack patients since we improved the services for our heart attack patients. That’s the improvement that we all want to see). And I think with this current administration of PhilHealth, we will be seeing more of that,” Legaspi said during the turn-over ceremony which was attended by PhilHealth acting president and chief executive officer Dr. Edwin Mercado.
Legaspi also paid tribute to the PhilHealth Regional Office – NCR, led by Dr. Bernadette Lico.
One of the beneficiaries of the improved PGH program was Juvy Busayong, wife of patient Jose Busayong from Calamba City, Laguna, said they are no longer worried about paying for the cost of services for heart attack patients because of the expanded PhilHealth benefit package.
“At first, hesitant kami kasi alam naman natin kapag narinig natin angiogram expected na natin na expensive pero sabi ng isa sa mga doctors may package na ang PhilHealth at wala na kaming babayaran. Siyempre, natuwa kami. Napakalaking pribilehiyo na kami ay makatanggap ng ganoong package (At first, we were hesitant since we know how expensive the angiogram is but one of the doctors here told us about the PhilHealth package and that we no longer have to pay. We were elated. It was a big privilege for us to have availed of this package),” Busayong said.
She said the PhilHealth package would be of great benefit to poor patients like her husband.
Meanwhile, Mercado reiterated PhilHealth’s commitment in bringing life-saving health services closer to every Filipino by ensuring prompt claims reimbursements to more hospitals.
“Ang P22.8 milyong bayad na ito sa PGH ay simula pa lamang. Kami ay iikot pa sa iba’t ibang mga rehiyon para ating personal na tiyakin ang mabilis na pag-poproseso at pagbabayad ng claims para sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ating mga ospital sa mga miyembrong may sakit sa puso (The P22.8 million that we paid to PhilHealth is just the start. We will be going to different regions to personally ensure the prompt processing and payment of claims for the services that our hospitals provided for those who have heart ailments),” the PhilHealth chief said.
The IHD-AMI benefit package, according to Mercado, offers coverage up to P 523,853 which can be availed at all accredited Levels 1 to 3 public and private health facilities
