Kasama na sa healthcare benefit packages ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ang dental care services, makaraang aprubahan ng Board of Directors en banc.
Kabilang sa naturang mga serbisyo ang mouth examination/oral screening, dental prophylaxis o cleaning, at fluoride varnish application.
Sakop din ang fissure sealants, Class V procedures, emergency tooth extractions, at dental consultations.
“Universal health care must have oral health care, and the best way to make it sustainable and felt by all Filipinos is through primary care,” ayon kay Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“The Board agreed on a preventive oral health benefit to be delivered by dentists working in PhilHealth Konsulta package providers, and also by stand-alone dentists based on referrals from the Konsulta providers,” dagdag ni Herbosa.
Sa ilalim ng naturang health package, inaprubahan ng PhilHealth Board ang maximum payment na P1,000 per patient per year para sa preventive oral health services, na susundan ng: P300 sa first visit, para sa mouth examination/oral screening, oral prophylaxis (cleaning), at fluoride varnish application; P300 sa second visit na nasa apat na buwan ang pagitan mula sa first visit, para sa kaparehong serbisyo; at P200 per tooth (maximum of two teeth per year) para sa pit and fissure sealant o sa isang Class V procedure.
Bawal ang co-payments sa public dentists, habang ang mga private dentist ay papayagan sa maximum co-payment charges per visit na P1,500 for mouth examination at oral prophylaxis; P600 para sa pit and fissure sealant o Class V procedure; at P600 para sa emergency tooth extraction. --mula sa ulat ni Sundy Locus/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
