The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced that it has expanded its coverage for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5 increasing hemodialysis sessions to 156 from the former 90 per year.
In a public hearing, Philhealth Acting Vice President of Corporate Affairs Group Rey Baleña explained that this will be effective starting Thursday, June 22 based on PhilHealth circular 2023-0009
"Ibig sabihin po nito ay hindi na ho mangangamba iyong marami nating mga kababayan ‘no, lalo na po iyong kapos sa budget sapagkat covered na po ng PhilHealth lahat po ng kanilang standard dialysis requirement para po sa buong taon (This means our citizens especially those who don't have the capacity will no longer have to worry about their standard dialysis requirement since PhilHealth will cover it)," Baleña said.
He stated that PhilHealth pays P2,600 pesos per session and from the former 90 sessions per year, the agency spends P234,000 per dialysis patient. But now increasing it to 156 sessions, PhilHealth will be covering P405,600 for patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5.
The 156 sessions, Baleña mentioned, is in accordance with the standard dialysis requirement of a patient with at least three sessions per week, and multiplying it by 52 weeks results to156.
"iyong kanilang requirement na dialysis kada linggo hanggang sa buong taon ay covered na po ng PhilHealth (Ther dialysis requirement every week for the whole year is covered by PhilHealth)," Baleña said.
"So, paraan po ito ng PhilHealth, para makapagbigay tayo ng sapat na financial protection sa mga pasyente na nangangailangan ng dialysis (This is PhilHealth's way of providing enough financial protection for our patients who need dialysis)," he added.
On the other hand, he also explained that if a patient does not finish the said sessions intended for the whole year, it will not be carried over to the following year since only 156 is set by PhilHealth's policy.
Meanwhile, Baleña also explained that for those who need emergency dialysis but don't have Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5, they can avail of the 45-day PhilHealth benefit.