PhilHealth covers home isolation of confirmed COVID-19 patients

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has announced its coverage on home isolation of COVID-19 confirmed mild and asymptomatic patients.

PhilHealth issued Circular No. 2021-0014 which aims to free up hospital beds in favor of cases needing higher levels of care.

In a statement, PhilHealth said that this COVID-19 Home Isolation Benefit Package (CHIBP) will serve as an alternative for patients who meet certain social and clinical criteria, enabling them to receive health support in their homes.

The package, which offers coverage of P5,917 per claim, also includes other services such as patient education and referral to a higher-level facility, if needed.

“Should patients experience deterioration during home isolation, CHIBP providers may refer patients to higher-level facilities,” it said.

This benefit package however is applicable only in surge areas as declared by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In line with this, PhilHealth invites facilities in surge areas to enlist as CHIBP providers at no additional accreditation fee.

Services under the package include home consultations for a minimum of 10 days, daily monitoring of patients that may be done through teleconsultation, and provision of a home isolation kit.

The state health insurer added that the home isolation package can be availed of by asymptomatic patients who tested positive for COVID-19 through RT-PCR test but with no signs of the disease and patients who exhibit mild symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat, among others.

However, PhilHealth clarified that mild cases do not exhibit symptoms of pneumonia and hypoxia – or low blood oxygen levels – as these are only manifested in more severe cases.

PhilHealth also clarified that only those who passed both the clinical and social criteria shall be entitled to the benefit, and they can choose their preferred CHIBP provider.

PhilHealth likewise reminded that filing of CHIBP claims must be done electronically by the facility/CHIBP provider and shall be processed within 60 calendar days from receipt. — GMR (FREEMAN)