PhilHealth benefits available in clinics

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) yesterday assured members of the state-run insurance agency that they could still avail themselves of their benefits even in infirmaries and clinics.

PhilHealth president Eduardo Banzon denied allegations that PhilHealth cards would be rendered useless with the reclassification of some hospitals into infirmaries.

“In the event where hospitals get reclassified to infirmaries, their accreditation with us remains but will just be adjusted based on their new classification,” Banzon explained.

He said PhilHealth cards issued to its members could still be used in health care facilities that will be reclassified as infirmaries and clinics.

Banzon made the clarification amid the claim of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) that PhilHealth cards would become useless in infirmaries as a result of the new Department of Health (DOH) policy.

He said PhilHealth automatically accredits health care facilities with a license to operate from the DOH.

PhilHealth will take the necessary steps to come up with an appropriate benefit scheme for infirmaries to ensure the continuous access of beneficiaries to health services.

The DOH ordered the reclassification of hospitals nationwide in an effort to upgrade the facilities being offered in various health facilities.

Banzon said that PhilHealth would reimburse payments to infirmaries based on adjusted service capability.

“These developments are for the greater benefit of Filipinos who deserve only quality services from our hospitals,” he stressed.