Speaker lauds quick reforms in PhilHealth
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday lauded the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for quickly putting in place reforms on President Marcos’ instructions.
The Speaker was referring to PhilHealth’s introduction of the facility-based emergency benefit under the outpatient emergency care package, where members could receive emergency medical attention in accredited hospitals without being admitted to the facility.
Previously, low-income patients were turned away or forced to delay treatment because PhilHealth only covered hospital confinement.
READ: PhilHealth: All emergency outpatient cases now covered
PhilHealth has also increased case rate packages for nearly 9,000 medical conditions, providing higher financial coverage for pneumonia, cancer treatments, heart surgeries, maternal health services, and other costly treatments.
According to Romualdez, the case rate adjustments would provide much-needed financial relief for Filipino families and possibly save more lives. Romualdez pointed out in Filipino, “Receiving health-care services shouldn’t be a privilege but a right of every Filipino.” —Jeannette I. Andrade
