House approves PhilHealth’s coverage of dialysis treatment

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure extending maximum coverage for dialysis treatment under Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

With House Bill 5956, the patients will be provided a maximum coverage limit of P225,000 annually for dialysis treatment under PhilHealth.

La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, said the measure will expand the present 45-day treatment coverage per year by PhilHealth for each dialysis patient, which falls short of the 104 sessions for those required of twice-a-week treatment.

Eriguel, also the chair of the House Committee on Health, said PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents undergoing dialysis treatment will be provided with longer sessions in a year which will then reduce out-of-pocket expenses in achieving better health results.

HB 5956, authored by Reps. Francisco Calalay Jr. and Leopoldo Bataoil, increases hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatment of members of the National Health Insurance Program from 45 to 90 sessions per year.     

“The measure requires PhilHealth to conduct a periodic assessment and reasonable adjustments of the benefit package for dialysis patients after taking into consideration the financial capability and changes in the socio-economic conditions of the country,"  Bataoil said.

He said the additional support being provided by the Philippine Sweepstakes Office and other support institutions to dialysis patient is barely enough to cover up the shortfall.

Under the measure, PhilHealth and the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH) are required to monitor strict compliance of private and public hospitals, dialysis centers and other health facilities with the safe delivery and quality standards on dialysis services.

Private and public hospitals, dialysis centers and other health facilities will also be mandated to report incidence and prevalence of renal diseases to the Philippine Renal Disease Registry of the DOH as a requirement to operate hemodialysis center. Those who will violate the monitoring standards and reportorial requirement of the proposed act will be penalized accordingly.

Other authors of the bills are Reps. Aleta Suarez (3rd District, Quezon), Benjamin Asilo (1st District, Manila), Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Leah Paquiz (Party List, ANG NARS), Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. (2nd District, Laguna), Samuel Pagdilao (Party List, ACT-CIS), Joseller Guiao (1st District, Pampanga), Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), Mark Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City), Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party List, ABANG LINGKOD), Evelio Leonardia (Lone District, Bacolod City), Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd District, Cavite), Benhur Salimbangon (4th District, Cebu), Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Rogelio Espina (Lone District, Biliran), Alfredo Vargas III (5th District, Quezon City), Evelina Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), Rene Relampagos (1st District, Bohol), and Philip Pichay (1st District, Surigao Del Sur).

For more proposed acts in the House of Representatives, visit our Bill Tracker.