By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation services to alleviate patients’ concerns on expenses and help them focus on recovery after surgery.
During his visit at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City, the President stressed his administration’s commitment to improving government services for Filipinos undergoing medical treatment, especially to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“Sa unang pagkakataon ay mapapatupad na ng PhilHealth ang benefit package para tugunan ang gastusin para sa kidney transplant patients kasama ’yong immunosuppressive medication, drug prophylaxis, antibiotics, at iba pa,” Marcos said.
Under the “Bagong Kidney, Bagong Buhay” Z Benefit Package, a comprehensive coverage for adults and pediatric patients with Stage 5 CKD, pediatric post-kidney transplant patients may avail of the following financial coverage:
- P73,065 monthly for immunosuppressive medications for the first year and P41,150 monthly for the succeeding years
- P45,570 monthly for drug prophylaxis or antibiotic to prevent infection
- P37,585 every three months on laboratory procedures for the first year and P14,078 every three months for the the succeeding years
PhilHealth will also provide the following financial package for adult patients:
- P40,725 monthly for immunosuppressive medications
- P18,932 for six months of drug prophylaxis or antibiotic
- P11,242 every three months for laboratory procedures for the first year and P8,125 every three months for the the succeeding years
Marcos assured kidney donors of support under both benefit packages, amounting to P1,900 for every six months for the laboratory procedures and monitoring.
Hemodialysis sessions for members with Stage 5 CKD are also expanded to 156 annually, at P6,350 per session, the Chief Executive said.
In a press briefing at Malacañang on the same day, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado said that ward accommodation is already covered by the Z Benefit Package.
“’Yong tinatawag namin na Z Package pagka-doon po sa mga ward accommodation, contracted out ’yang services, dapat wala nang babayaran. Kapag sa mga pribadong kwarto, ’yan ay negotiated with the doctors,” he said.
Mercado underscored that PhilHealth continues to improve its processes, especially on expediting the claims and availment of benefit packages.
“’Yong aking mga reach out sa ating mga providers noong nakaraang linggo at mga buwan, napaka-positive ng kanilang response, ramdam nila ang pag-igsi ng claims cycle namin… ‘Yon ay hinahabol pa naming paigsiin. Parang ngayon po nasa 23 days, merong mga region kaya na ng 15 days, pero ang aking marching orders ibaba namin ng seven days,” he said.
“Pangalawa, ’yong proseso ng pagke-claim, lalagyan namin ng proseso na doon pa lang sa front-end, pag ni-load ’yong claims sa aming computer system, ma-identify na ’yong kung ano ’yong kakulangan… like attachment or hindi napunan na mga puwang doon sa mga forms.” (with report from Kenneth Paciente / PTV News)
-jpv
