PhilHealth endorses '5 better benefit packages'

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) endorsed five 'better benefit packages' for heart attacks, rare diseases, among others.

In a press release, the agency said the benefit packages were endorsed by PhilHealth's Benefits Committee (BenCom) and are up for approval under Board En Banc.

The categories are: heart attacks, 10 rare diseases, preventive oral health at primary care, peritoneal dialysis, and assistive mobility devices

The better benefits endorsed for Board approval include:

• a package for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attacks across the continuum of care
• ten rare diseases that include Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Methylmalonic Acidemia/Propionic Acidemia, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, Gaucher Disease, Pompe Disease, Fabry Disease, MPS II (Hunter Syndrome), MPS IV (Morquio Syndrome), and Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• preventive oral health services to complement the PhilHealth Konsulta package
• improved coverage for Peritoneal Dialysis
• assistive mobility devices for priority conditions that affect the most in need for physical rehabilitation

PhilHealth said the Board En Banc will have its next regular meeting before the end of the month.

"The job of PhilHealth is to pay the health benefits of its members. It is President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s standing instruction for the DOH to steer PhilHealth along these lines through its Board," said DOH Secretary Herbosa.

"To lower the health expenses of Filipino families, radical change must happen from within PhilHealth. It has to do better - settling all arrears, paying reimbursement claims faster, and increasing cost coverage. Today's BenCom endorsement is one of many that the DOH has been leading in that regard," he added. — Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA Integrated News