Philhealth raises contributions

CEBU, Philippines - Effective July, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhelth) will implement increases in the annual contribution of its members.

William Chavez, the area vice president for Southern Luzon and Visayas and concurrent Regional Vice President of Philhealth, said the Philhealth Board, through a resolution, approved the increases in the annual contribution to be able to implement enhancements in the benefit packages.

The premium contribution of all National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-FR.) identified poor families of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Sponsored Program shall be P2,400 per year effective 01 January 2012.

The Sponsored Program identification card that will be issued to the intended NHTS-PR beneficiaries shall have a two-year validity period. This is with the expectation for the National Government to sustain its subsidy until CY 2013.

The premium contributions under the Partial Subsidy Scheme shall be increased to P2,400 per year effective July.

In Central Visayas, there are about 1.98 million Philhealth members.

Chavez said there are about 1,308,759 members in Cebu followed by Bohol with 357,493 members.

Negros Oriental has 289,588 while there are 25,807 members in Siquijor.

“About 75 percent of these members are public and private employees who are compulsory members of the Philhealth,” Chavez said.

Philhealh also accredits rural and health centers to provide outpatient primary consultation and diagnostic benefits to sponsored members, as well as to provide treatment for tuberculosis under Philhealth’s TB benefit packages and the services under the Maternity Care Package for normal spontaneous deliverances. There are 66 accredited rural and 46 accredited health centers in Region.

Meanwhile, the Philhealth has set a series of forums to tackle concerns about the implementation of PhilHealth’s Case Rate and “No Balance Billing” policies. The assessment will be done with its various accredited health care providers and institutions including municipal health officers, PhilHealth in-charge personnel of accredited maternity clinics.

Case rate payment scheme allows members to avail of fixed or package benefits when confined with any of the 23 medical and surgical cases identified in the case rate.

Included in the 11 medical cases are dengue 1 and 2, pneumonia 1 and 2, essential hypertension, cerebral infraction and hemorrhage, acute gastroenteritis, asthma, typhoid fever, and Newborn Care Package (NCP).

The surgical cases, on the other hand, include radiotheraphy, dialysis, normal deliveries and deliveries by caesarian section, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, dilatation and curettage, thyroidectomy, and mastectomy.  (FREEMAN)