The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) expanded its outpatient hemodialysis coverage from 90 sessions to 144 sessions for this year, PhilHealth Vice President for Corporate Affairs Shirley Domingo said.
In the July 6 Laging Handa briefing, she explained this covers members and their dependents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5, and those in the PhilHealth Dialysis Database.
“Alam nating napakahirap lalo na [may] pandemic, maraming nawalan ng trabaho, bumaba ‘yung kakayahan na kumita,” Domingo said.
“Mabigat po sa ating mga kababayan ang naghe-hemodialysis na magbayad out of their pockets ng kanilang sessions.”
The official said the 91st to 144th sessions are exclusive for outpatient hemodialysis, while the remaining unutilized sessions for the year cannot be carried over to the following year.
Individuals who have yet to register for PhilHealth are still covered by the coverage extension.
“Under [the] UHC [Universal Health Care Law] kasi, lahat [ay] member ng PhilHealth at may immediate eligibility. Kung kayo ay paying member at direct contributors, magpa-register kayo and pay premiums; [kung] indirect naman, paid by the government, but they can avail at once,” Domingo said.
The cost of 144 hemodialysis sessions is P374,000 or P2,600 per session. – Report from Kenneth Paciente/AG- jlo
Watch full report here:
