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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon calls for another 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits

Solon calls for another 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits

Published Aug 11, 2024 06:38 am

At A Glance

  • AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed a resolution in the House of Representatives that urges the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to implement another round of a 30 percent increase in its benefit packages and coverage. 

IMG-f0432dedf85841e987e1fe35307d0796-V.jpgAGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Rep. Lee's office)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed a resolution in the House of Representatives that urges the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to implement another round of a 30 percent increase in its benefit packages and coverage.

Under House Resolution (HR) No. 1900, the lower chamber is urged to determine how PhilHealth can increase its current benefits.

The measure also asks the state health insurer to introduce new benefit packages, such as the inclusion of vital diagnostic tests and other essential laboratory exams as outpatient services.

“PhilHealth shall serve as the national healthcare provider and not as an investment powerhouse. It is mandated and obliged to utilize most of the funds to increase the program’s benefits and decrease the amount of members’ contributions,” Lee said in a statement Sunday, Aug. 11

The lawmaker said it is in the best interest of beneficiaries and contributors of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) to increase all benefits and coverage of PhilHealth.

He said doing so would help lower the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipinos for their healthcare needs.

To complement HR No. 1900, Lee wrote a letter to PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. to express this desire.

“The availability of substantial funds shows that PhilHealth can expand its benefit packages and can even introduce new benefits to cover more of the actual hospitalization costs of beneficiaries,” he said in the letter.

Lee, a staunch health advocate, recently pushed for the 30 percent across-the-board increase in PhilHealth benefits. It was implemented last Feb. 14.

This development comes following the congressman’s revelation that the agency had P466 billion in investible funds and P68.4 billion in net income. This is aside from the more than P100 billion government subsidy every year.

According to him, the availability of the P89.9 billion excess funds makes it the “best time” to increase the PhilHealth benefits by 30 percent.

Lee noted that PhilHealth’s benefit packages are still lacking the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan, CT (Computed Tomography) Scan, and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

“Ito po yung mga kailangang tests para malaman kung may malalang sakit, pero napakamahal ng mga ito. Kailangan man, paano ito maipapagawa kung wala o kapos sa budget?,” the Bicolano solon said.

(These are the necessary tests to know if there is a serious illness, but they are very expensive. Even if it is necessary, how can it be done if there is no or little budget?)

“Kaya dapat unahin na ma-cover muna lahat ng PhilHealth ang mga serbisyong ito,” he stressed.

(That’s why PhilHealth should first cover these services.)

Related Tags

wilbert lee Benefits PhilHealth
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