Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan filed House Bill 11086, which seeks to institutionalize PhilHealth’s in-patient and outpatient mental health benefits program.
“While we laud the efforts of PhilHealth, our goal under the bill is to have a unified mental health benefits package that is accessible to all, rather than piecemeal and limited programs that remain vulnerable to changes in administrative priorities and funding limitations,” Yamsuan said.
The lawmaker said PhilHealth has made significant strides in making mental health services affordable and accessible by introducing an outpatient mental health benefits package through its Circular 2023-0018 released in October last year.
The package covers consultations, diagnostic follow-ups, psychoeducation, and psychosocial support through accredited mental health facilities.
“However, funding for mental health is often relegated to the background, which makes the PhilHealth Circular vulnerable to change and funding constraints,” Yamsuan said.
“House Bill 11086 or our proposed Comprehensive Mental Health Benefit Act aims to ensure that we have a clearly defined and well-funded effort to safeguard the mental health of all Filipinos, especially our youth,” he added.
