The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) on Wednesday approved the package rate for Hemodialysis again, from the recently implemented PHP 4,000 per session to PHP 6,350.
The decision was made in a meeting of the PhilHealth Board of Directors presidend over by Secretary of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board Chair Teodoro J. Herbosa.
Earlier in the week, Sec. Herbosa himself convened the Benefits Committee (Bencom) which heard feedback from hospitals, dialysis centers, and also the Philippine Society of Nephrology. The Bencom quickly noted the operations feedback on the new P4,000 rate, particularly the persistent challenges of dialysis providers.
The PhilHealth Board en banc approved the new rate of PHP 6,350 per session in both public and private dialysis units. It also allowed private dialysis units to charge out of pocket expense if there are services provided beyond the listed minimum standards of care.
Nephrologists in these private dialysis units are also allowed to bill an additional professional fee of up to PHP 450 for services rendered.
According to DOH, the next step will be a detailed PhilHealth Circular and operationalization by PhilHealth Management to ensure that the higher rate can already be claimed.
“President Marcos Jr. listens and works fast, and so the PhilHealth Board now hears all feedback and is agile, too. This improvement in the hemodialysis benefit package will be complemented by better preventive care benefits,” said Secretary Herbosa. “We have also reminded Management to work fast on urgent care and emergency benefits to complete the picture,” Herbosa said.
