PhilHealth disputes fund pre-termination

Dear Editor,

This is to correct the false claim that the government incurred a loss of P2.5 billion from the pre-termination of investments in connection with the transfer of funds to the National Treasury (“Stagnant UHC enforcer,” 23 December 2024).

PhilHealth did not pre-terminate any fund placements in the return of the said funds coming from government subsidies. The schedule of transfers was made in three distinct tranches, aligning precisely with the maturity dates of investments in Special Savings Deposits, Government Securities, and Corporate Bonds, including the associated coupon and interest earnings. We urge you to first verify your information before selling it as truth.

On the issue of the outpatient mental health package where “... a nil amount in benefit claims paid during 2023, considering that there is a rising mental health crises in the country,” it should be noted that PhilHealth and the Department of Health launched the package only in October 2023, with the National Center for Mental Health being the first to partner with us through a ceremonial contract signing during the launch.

Just like any other newly introduced benefit, it will take a fair amount of time before the public gets to know and avail of the services, and there are claims and benefit payments. Hence, we think it is not fair to ask for immediate results in the last two months of 2023 insofar as the newly introduced benefit package is concerned.

Nevertheless, we are aggressively accrediting qualified health facilities nationwide to make mental health services paid for by PhilHealth more accessible to the people who need them. We are even taking the extra mile to help remedy some hindrances being faced by target providers to facilitate their participation in the program.

On the benefit enhancements that we have been implementing since last year, PhilHealth is hitting and even surpassing its targets based on our board-approved benefits plan. As of this writing, at least 30 benefit packages have been introduced and/or enhanced in just over a two-year period, a feat that is unprecedented in terms of speed and rate of increase, and was made possible under the leadership of PCEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. who took the helm only in November 2022.

Recent board-approved enhancements include emergency care, optometric services, heart surgery, cataract surgery, lens implantation, and another 50-percent increase in more than 9,000 case rates packages not included in those being rationalized. With the first wave of increases at 30 percent earlier this year, PhilHealth has hiked the case rates to more than 80 percent.

Meanwhile, the guidelines for other previously announced benefit packages — acute myocardial infarction or heart attack, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplants, 10 rare diseases under Z Miracles, oral health services under the Konsulta package, and assistive mobility devices for priority conditions affecting those in need of physical rehabilitation — will be out soon.

Respectfully yours,

(Sgd.) Rey T. Baleña

Acting Vice President,

Corporate Affairs Group

PhilHealth