The cost of COVID-19 testing package of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has gone down from Php 8,150 to Php 4,210.
PhilHealth President Ret. BGen. Ricardo Morales said the new price was based on the current value of COVID-19 test kits.
“‘Yong price na iyan (The price) was already in the works even before the Senate Hearing. Market forces ang nagde-determine niyan (Market forces determine it),” Morales said.
Morales explained the price of the testing package may drop in the coming months due to increase in supply of test kits, facilities, and capacity of the country in testing COVID-19. There are currently 66 testing facilities in the country that can process 32,000 samples.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth clarified the agency has not yet paid COVID-19 test claims from hospitals. He emphasized the agency has enough funds to address medical fees of Filipinos, but “next year, it’s going to grieve.”
Morales said PhilHealth is open to anyone interested to check their processes amid the statement of Senator Franklin Drilon to shuffle positions within the agency. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
