PhilHealth expands coverage for early detection of congenital disorders

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has expanded its coverage of essential health services for newborns to enable early detection and management of congenital disorders that may lead to mental retardation.

These disorders may also result in death if left untreated, PhilHealth said.  

Under Circular No. 2018-0021 which took effect last Jan. 5, PhilHealth introduced the enhanced Newborn Care Package, increasing the amount of coverage from P1,750 to P2,950. 

This pays for supplies for essential newborn care such as Vitamin K, eye ointment, vaccines for hepatitis B and BCG; expanded newborn screening test such as auditory screening, and professional fees. 

The essential newborn care also includes immediate drying of the baby, early skin to skin contact, timely cord clamping, non-separation of mother/baby for early breastfeeding initiation and weighing of the baby.  

The circular showed the expanded newborn screening test will be able to detect endocrine, amino and fatty acid disorders; organic acid, urea cycle defect, cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, biotinidase deficiency, and other disorders.

Newborn screening was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004. 

It is aimed to detect at the earliest stage certain genetic and metabolic conditions that may lead to mental retardation or morbidity if left untreated. 

According to PhilHealth, the enhancement in the package is in support of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System which expanded the screening from six to over 28 disorders, pursuant to Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2014-0045. The AO issued guidelines on the implementation of the expanded Newborn Screening Program.

The enhanced package will be dispensed to qualified newborns delivered in all accredited health care institutions that perform deliveries and provide newborn care, including hospitals, infirmaries/dispensaries and birthing homes/lying-in clinics.

To ensure entitlement to this  benefit, “newborns need to be in the facility for at least 24 hours after birth except those who warrant immediate referral to a higher level facility,” PhilHealth said.

The agency has encouraged all active and expecting members “to avail of the package in order to provide newborns with the needed services that will help reduce morbidity and mortality and eliminate the costs associated with treatment and care of lifelong debilitating conditions.”