The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) endorsed new enhanced benefit packages to the agency’s board.
The PhilHealth benefits committee and board of directors, chaired by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa endorsed the new packages.
The benefit packages include heart attacks, ten rare diseases, preventive oral health at primary care, peritoneal dialysis, and assistive mobility devices. The Board En Banc will have its next regular meeting before the end of the month.
A new PhilHealth benefit or to enhance an existing one has to undergo eight major steps: 1) benefit development; 2) policy development; 3) policy approval; 4) IT system development; 5) publication; 6) IT system enhancement; 7) user training/orientation; and 8) effectiveness assessment.
Board action is found in policy development and policy approval. The six other steps are within Management and the President and CEO’s direct control.
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; and assistive mobility devices for priority conditions that affect the most in need for physical rehabilitation.
