The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in Central Visayas (PhilHealth-7) announced on Tuesday the expansion of its Konsulta Program, enhancing the region’s medical benefit packages.

PhilHealth-7 regional vice president Marjorie Cabrieto told Daily Tribune that new benefit packages have been added to the Konsulta Program.

In addition to the 13 existing packages, PhilHealth now offers outpatient emergency care, which covers urgent medical treatment not requiring hospitalization, along with ambulance services and medications.

“PhilHealth Region 7 has accredited 207 facilities under the Konsulta Program. Only two local government units in Cebu Province lack accredited Konsulta providers,” Cabrieto said.

Other newly- included benefit packages are preventive oral services, physical medicine rehabilitation, assistive mobility services, and TB directly observed therapy.

Cabrieto clarified that there is no co-payment for the Konsulta Program in government hospitals, while a P900 co-payment applies at private facilities.

Major benefit packages currently covered by the Konsulta Program include kidney transplantation, HIV treatment and an outpatient mental health package.

PhilHealth-7 has contracted several government facilities, such as Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Cebu City Medical Center, as Konsulta providers for these packages.