MANILA — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is eyeing to double its package for hemodialysis to P5,200 from the current P2,600 per session, as lawmakers push for a higher coverage of patients’ expenses for medicines.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party List Rep. Erwin Tulfo said that based on his meeting with PhilHealth, increasing the dialysis package is “doable”. 

PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer Eli Santos said they have one month to study the proposal, but gave assurances that should the board approve it, the increase in benefits will not require a premium hike.

As of 2023, PhilHealth’s assets amounted to P589.5 billion, which also covers its P463.7 billion reserve fund.

“Ang PhilHealth po ay pag-aaralan ang pag-increase nito to P5,200. Binigyan po kami ng one month na pag-aaralan ito... Ang goal natin is wala na pong out of pocket itong dialysis patients,” Santos said.

“Aayusin lang ng PhilHealth ‘yung mechanics for the next 30 days. Titignan nila ngayon kung papaano, anong gagawin, pero kakayanin naman daw na sasagutin na ng PhilHealth ‘yung mga gamot,” Tulfo, for his part, said.

“Hopefully by next month wala na talaga ika-cash out ang mga nagpapa-dialysis, lalo na ‘yung mga three times a week. Kasi ngayon, kailangan nila bumili ng mga vials sa botika, dadalhin nila doon sa dialysis center para i-injection sa kanila. Ngayon sasagutin na lahat ng PhilHealth pati ‘yun, para wala na talaga siyang gagastusin,” he added.

House leaders are also pushing for PhilHealth to cover 10% of members’ hospital bills. Tulfo said this will be studied by the state health insurer.

“Baka pwedeng gawing sa total bill ng isang pasyente, whether private ka, government hospital, tapyasan ng 10%, bigyan ng 10% discount ang lahat ng miyembro. Example, if your bill is P100,000, aalisan ng P10,000 para ang poproblemahin nalang ng pasyente ng pamilya niya is P90 (thousand),” he said.

“Sabi naman ni Mr. Santos doable ‘yun, kakayanin naman daw, basta pag-aaralan lang nila saan hugutin ‘yung mga funding nila,” the lawmaker added.

PhilHealth began implementing last May 15 its enhanced Konsulta package, which covers breast ultrasound and mammogram.

Tulfo, meanwhile, said he will talk to the House Committee on Health to study possible reductions in PhilHealth premium payments.

“Pag-aaralan natin. Pagbukas ng session, I will talk to the Committee on Health kung ‘yung minimum o below minimum ‘wag ka na magbayad for now. Ngayon kung medyo above minimum wage ka, tingnan natin. Pero with discount na siguro. Bawas na,” he said.

“Mas maganda kung mas maliit. Lalo sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap, because they can use that money somewhere else,” Tulfo added.