PhilHealth Is Now Very Much Ahead – Garin

The Department of Health (DOH) said that Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is very much more ahead now than before in terms of delivery of coverage of illnesses and in terms of impact .

“PhilHealth has shown its sincerity in fully supporting the needs of special sector of the population with the benefit packages that are designed to help its members live normal happy and productive lives,” said DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin during the 21st anniversary of PhilHealth held Friday at Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City.

Secretary Garin said that while for the past years PhilHealth has put in place a wide array of benefit packages for every imaginable cost of hospitalization, the health insurance of the government promoting the universal healthcare program continues to introduce innovations and enhancement of services.

“But, it is not stopping at any number nor variety of beneficiaries packages in a bid to provide members of what they need,” she said as she pointed out that PhilHealth is doing its commitment to extend to members better health financial risk protection through the help of past and present partners.

She said that among them was the expansion of prosthesis package benefits.

In the previous or in 2013 package of benefits, the Z-morph initially covered initial fitting of external lower limb prosthesis at a package rate of Php 15,000 per limb or Php 30,000 for both limbs for the entire pre and post-prosthetic management of either the foot, symes and ankle or below knee levels of amputation.

The expanded z-morph packages includes above knee/knee disarticulation prosthesis, hip disarticulation prosthesis, below elbow and above lebow prosthesis, respectively.

Other packages were Van Ness rotationplasty, ankle-foot orthoprosthesis.

PhilHealth will also pay for knee-ankle orthoses, hip-knee-ankle foot orthoses, spinal orthoses

“Based on our assessment of the Z-morph package and on a series of consultative meetings and dialogues with our stakeholders, our current coverage of Php 15,000 per lower limb is enough. However, there are still some services that need to be included such as physical therapy, other levels of amputation, and orthoses, thus, we are expanding the packages now,” said PhilHealth president and CEO Atty. Alexander A. Padilla.

The move to expand the package inclusion is in support of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Rights of the Child wherein 21 countries, including the Philippines, are signatories to the APEC Global Friends of Disability.

Padilla added that with the expansion of prosthesis packages they can make the young children with disabilities maximized and achieved their full potentials and live a normal life and contribute their productivity skills and talents better through their inclusion and participation.

Other enhanced services of PhilHealth is providing coverage to children in the orphanage that are licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), expansion of contracting health facilities wherein other private hospitals but capable and qualified hospitals were also contracted to provide the “z-morph” packages benefits, improving access of membership in inquiries, payment facilities and many others services.(PNA) RMA/LSJ/PJN