The Department of Health (DOH) today announced that PhilHealth has issued guidelines on “case-based payment of benefits” (PhilHealth Circular 2020-0009- Benefit Packages for Inpatient Care of Probable and Confirmed COVID-19 Developing Severe Illnesses/Outcomes) for COVID-19 patients.
“This is part of PhilHealth’s mandate to ensure that all Filipinos have equitable access to quality, affordable and accessible health care services,” Health OIC-Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Beat COVID-19 Virtual Presser that featured Dr. Shirley Domingo, PhilHealth Vice President for the Corporate Affairs Group as its guest.
According to Dr. Domingo, patients confined as probable or confirmed cases can avail of the benefit packages as follows: PHP 43,997 package for patients with mild pneumonia confined in Level 1 to 3 hospitals; PHP 143,267 package for those with moderate pneumonia in Level 1 to 3 hospitals; PHP 333,519 package for patients with severe pneumonia confined in Level 2 to 3 hospitals, including ICUs; and P786,384 package for patients with critical pneumonia confined in Level 2 to 3 hospitals, including ICUs.
These packages cover the rates for a private hospital room, management and monitoring of illness, laboratory, diagnostics and imaging, medicines included in the guidelines and protocol of the DOH, and supplies and equipment, including PPEs.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang bayad ng PhilHealth sa lahat ng COVID-19 cases,” declared Dr. Domingo. Philhealth will cover all expenses for patients admitted from February 1 to April 14, 2020, while the newly issued case rates will apply beginning April 15, 2020. Rates will be adjusted upon review of new evidence and updates on guidelines, protocols, and costings are introduced. Additionally, all health workers including those essential to the frontline service exposed to COVID-19 will be fully secured by PhilHealth in the entire duration of the pandemic.
Dr. Domingo further stressed that with the passage of the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos are now automatically members of PhilHealth and are immediately eligible to avail of the mentioned benefits. They only need to accomplish the PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and present with two valid IDs. Existing members with missed contributions remain eligible to avail of the COVID-19 benefits.
The PhilHealth Spokesperson also appealed to health facilities not to require deposits or advance payments from patients and assured them and the public that the government will cover their financial expenses through PhilHealth.
“Walang sisinuhin ang Philhealth pagdating sa sakit na ito,” USec. Vergeire stated. PhilHealth is ready to cover all Filipinos in these trying times. “Sana po ay ‘wag huwag tayong mag alinlangan na pumunta upang magpatingin sa ating mga ospital kung kinakailangan, lalo na po kung ito ay ayun sa rekomendasyon ng ating mga doktor,” USec. Vergeire concluded.
