(Unsplash)

A neophyte congressman wants future meetings of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) Benefits Committee (BenCom) to be livestreamed for the sake of public access. 

For this purpose, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2015. 

Through his measure, Lee is also calling on the state health insurer to hasten the implementation of its increased benefits. 

The resolution was filed as soon as the Department of Health (DOH) announced the increase in the hemodialysis package rate from P4,000 per session to P6,350—a decision from the recent meeting of BenCom spearheaded by DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa. 

PhilHealth is under the auspices of the DOH. 

“If the DOH, through the BenCom, can promptly convene and increase certain PhilHealth benefit packages, why can’t it be done with the coverage of other case rates with their enormous available funds?” Lee asked. 

In his resolution, the Bicolano also said that the BenCom meeting must be livestreamed so that the public can get real time updates.

This way, more Filipinos can have access to the information and stay informed about what’s transpiring in the deliberation of their entitlements and benefits in PhilHealth. 

Lee stressed that with the hundreds of billions of PhilHealth funds, “dapat ipatupad na sa lalong madaling panahon ang dagdag na coverage ng PhilHealth sa cancer treatment, coronary artery disease, MRI, PET scan, CT scan, maternity care, dental care, eye care, emergency care, comprehensive outpatient benefit package, iba pang klase ng mabibigat na karamdaman at sobrang mahal na mga operasyon sa ospital." 

It can be recalled that during the 2025 DOH budget hearing held last Sept. 4, Lee warned to defer the health agency’s budget if the proposed increase in PhilHealth benefits will remain unaddressed before the House plenary debates. 

The plenary debates on the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for next year began Monday morning.