PhilHealth lauds CH for plan to enroll indigents

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in Central Visayas lauded the Cebu City Government for its plan to enroll 30,000 indigent families to Philhealth under its sponsored program.

The program is encouraged in Republic Act No. 7875 which created the National Health Insurance Program.

After several years since RA 7875 was enacted, the city finally adopted the NHIP which shall provide health benefits to poorest of the poor families in the city.

Lawyer Ligaya Barcenas, head of the PhilHealth legal office, said that the thrust of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III is to strengthen the NHIP and expand its membership to those who cannot afford medical care.“Our aim is to arrive to the day when no single Filipinos will have to die without getting medical care. Right now, one in every 40,000 Filipinos dies without getting proper medical attention,” she said.

Two weeks ago, the Cebu City Council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with PhilHealth for the initial enrollment of 30,000 identified urban poor families in Cebu City.The city is willing to spend P18 million a year for the annual premium at P600 per family. The other half will be shouldered by the national government.

William O. Chavez, PhilHealth regional vice president, said that the national government has allotted over P3 billion to subsidize the insurance corporation.

Under the program, the family will get the medical benefit of the regular members. One enrollment per family shall cover the rest of the members.

The qualified dependents include the legitimate spouse; legitimate, legitimated, illegitimate or adopted children below 21 years old and parents who are more than 60 years old and are not PhilHealth members.

The city government targets to begin the enrolment of families on January 1.

Barcenas said that the P600 per family that the city would pay can still be reduced by half if the city will upgrade its health centers to PhilHealth standards for it to be accredited by them.

For every indigent family enrolled by the LGU to the sponsored program and who availed of medical care to the accredited health center, PhilHealth pays back P300 to the LGU representing capitation amount per year of enrolment.

The capitation fund may be used to buy drugs listed in the Philippine National Drug Formulary, acquire supplies and materials critical to effective delivery of primary care services, and pay for referral fees. (FREEMAN)