Philhealth benefits under ra 7875

A progressive lawmaker wants the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to make an urgent review of its benefits packages following reports that these do not cover COVID-19 patients placed in tents outside hospitals already at full capacity. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas issued the call on Wednesday after Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said in a House hearing last week that these patients were being charged P1,000 per hour. “Letting patients suffer in tents is one thing, but charging them P1,000 per hour and saying that this is not part of the PhilHealth coverage is just plain evil,” Brosas said in a statement. She added that if President Duterte had only prioritized the building of COVID-19 hospitals over nonessential infrastructure projects, then those suffering from the respiratory disease would not have to suffer and die in tents. PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Dante Gierran earlier said that those admitted to hospital tents due to the lack of beds ... » Learn More about Review of PhilHealth benefits sought

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is hopeful that the task force created by President Rodrigo Duterte to investigate alleged irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) would also revive the ailing state insurer to enable it to fully implement the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. The senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, enjoined all agencies of government to support the “cleansing” of PhilHealth following allegations of widespread corruption. “Kaya nga po task force ang binuo (This is the reason why a task force was organized). He earlier called on the Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management to help PhilHealth, saying the non-implementation of the UHC Law is “unacceptable.” “Hindi ako papayag na hindi ma-fully implement po ito. In fact, ilang beses na po akong sumali sa pagpupulong ng mga economic managers ng Pangulo at ‘yan po ang aking ipinapakiusap na ma-fully implement po itong UHC (I will not ... » Learn More about Probe to revive PhilHealth – Go

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi has submitted several proposals to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) regarding the update to the People with Disabilities (PwD) Workers’ Allowance (Epoku) application. Ras Adiba said she had received several complaints from the PwD community on the Epoku application, and had contacted the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to resolve the problem. Ras Adiba, who is also a member of the Dewan Negara, thanked the department for acting swiftly in resolving the problem. Among her suggestions were requesting that the department extend the period for renewal of Epoku applications from one year to two years. "Secondly, requesting that the PwD community go to the nearest JKM to update the Epoku three months before the deadline. "Thirdly, asking the PwD community to update the JKM with their latest address and telephone number, in the event of any changes, ” she said Wednesday (March 31). Ras Adiba, who is ... » Learn More about Ras Adiba: Extend renewal period for OKU workers’ allowance to two years

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will look at possible benefits that can be granted to COVID-19 patients who are staying in hospital emergency rooms (ER) while awaiting admission, Health Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said on Wednesday. PhilHealth, Vega said, is currently not covering charges made by hospitals for those who are waiting in the ER. Patients who are PhilHealth members need to be formally admitted to be able to claim benefits. “Nakipag-usap na kami sa PhilHealth through Atty. Gierran at nagsabi na siya na idi-discuss nila kung ano ang benefits, especially sa mga COVID-19 patients natin na nasa ER na hindi maka-collect from PhilHealth,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing. (We have talked with PhilHealth chief Atty. Dante Gierran and he said they will discuss the possible benefits  for COVID-19 patients in ERs who cannot collect from PhilHealth.) Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite earlier ... » Learn More about PhilHealth to consider benefits for COVID-19 patients in ERs

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee of the Whole has recommended the filing of charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, recently resigned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales, as well as several top-ranking officials, over the alleged misuse of funds under the state-run agency’s emergency cash advance measure. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, chair of the committee, reported out the panel’s findings during Tuesday’s plenary session following a series of hearings into fresh allegations of corruption within the agency. “Any reform in personnel and its organization cannot come from within its ranks when all had been tainted with suspicion, through active participation or inaction, in the conspiracy to bankrupt PhilHealth of its funds and resources,” Sotto said in his speech. One of the allegations of corruption raised during the Senate hearings involves the supposedly questionable release of funds under the corporation’s Interim ... » Learn More about Senate panel wants Duque, Morales, other execs sued over PhilHealth fund mess

NOT COVERED Even in the early months of the pandemic, many hospitals had to set up tents to accommodate COVID-19 patients awaiting space in their intensive care units. A recent House inquiry revealed that one hospital had been billing “P1,000 per hour’’ for the use of such tents—an expense not covered by PhilHealth. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) should urgently review its benefit packages as it should clarify its coverage for patients in tents, a lawmaker said Wednesday. Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas said reports of patients being charged P1,000 per hour of waiting in tents is “a manifestation of the Duterte era’s dystopian nightmare.” “Letting patients suffer in tents is one thing, but charging them P1,000 [per hour] and saying that this is not part of the PhilHealth coverage is just plain evil,” Brosas said in a statement. “If only President (Rodrigo) Duterte prioritized building COVID-19 ... » Learn More about Review of PhilHealth packages urged to clarify coverage of patients in tents

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no more Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by 2022 if the coronavirus pandemic persists, an official warned on Tuesday. “By next year po, wala na po tayong reserve funds. So one year lang po ang ating actuarial life,” Nerissa Santiago, Acting PhilHealth Senior Vice President, and Concurrent Vice President of Data Protection Officer, said during the Senate hearing on  alleged widespread corruption within the state health pension fund. Santiago was responding to queries of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who was inquiring about the actuarial life of PhilHealth. “So you’re saying that the actuarial life of PhilHealth is only one year?” Drilon asked. “Are you saying that  in 2022 there will be no more PhilHealth?” “Yes sir,” Santiago replied. Drilon said the official’s disclosure was worrisome. Santiago explained that the agency expects a net operating loss of P90 billion this year and P147 billion in 2021 if the ... » Learn More about PhilHealth to collapse by 2022 if pandemic persists, warns exec

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is optimistic that the enactment of the Coco Levy Trust Fund Act will benefit millions of farmers and modernize the coconut industry. President Rodrigo Duterte signed on February 26 Republic Act (RA) 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, which mandates the Bureau of Treasury to transmit P10 billion to the coco levy trust fund on the first year of its implementation; P10 billion on the second year; P15 billion on the third year; P15 billion on the fourth year and P25 billion on the fifth year. Go, co-author of RA 11524, noted that coconut farmers have waited decades for the passage of the measure. “So many administrations had passed. And now, it [was] finally signed [into law],” he said in a statement. About P5 billion of the Coco Levy Trust Fund will be used for the programs of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, including the training of coconut farmers and their families, and planting and replanting of ... » Learn More about Millions to benefit from coco trust fund – Bong Go

It will take up to three years for the Philippines to fully benefit from the Energy Efficiency Conservation (EE&C) law that was enacted two years ago. Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance President Alexander Ablaza, in a virtual event held Monday, said, “we get to feel the impact of the law down the road in the next three years.” “After 29 years of a voluntary energy efficiency market in the Philippines, we still need the next three years to start experiencing the impacts of the law,” said Ablaza during event dubbed “Energy Efficiency Day.” Ablaza is referring to Republic Act (RA) 11285, or the “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act,” that President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on April 12, 2019. The said law, among others, aims to institutionalize energy efficiency and conservation as a national way of life geared towards the efficient and judicious utilization of energy by formulating, developing and implementing energy efficiency and conservation plans/programs to ... » Learn More about PH to benefit from energy law in 3 yrs

MANILA, Philippines — Some hospitals are apparently charging P1,000 per hour to patients staying in temporary tents at hospitals while waiting to be admitted to a room, a lawmaker revealed Tuesday. During the House health committee’s online meeting,  Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite cited a case in which a patient had to pay P1,000 per hour for temporary tent accommodation. Gaite said that the temporary tent accomodations were not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). “Pansamantalang nilagay muna sila sa mga tents (They were housed in tents for the time being) and when they were billed out, apparently, PhilHealth does not cover the expense. Medyo malaki rin (A bit expensive),” Gaite said. Gaite said accordingly, the hourly rate is P1,000, making it more expensive than ICU and, worse, it is not covered by PhilHealth. According to PhilHealth Acting Senior Vice President Neri Santiago, the tents are not included in PhilHealth’s package, adding there ... » Learn More about Some hospitals charge patients waiting in temporary tents P1-K per hour – solon