PHL govt to release P8.3B for Philhealth's poor members

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is set to release P8.3 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) to fully subsidize the premium of indigent patients.   “By fully subsidizing the insurance premiums of indigent patients, qualified families can have better access to outpatient and inpatient services at PhilHealth-accredited facilities,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said in a statement Thursday.    Some 3.41 million beneficiaries have been identified through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, Abad noted.   The P8.3 billion–to be released by the Bureau of Treasury–is part of the P12 billion allotted to the National Health Insurance Program under the 2012 General Appropriations Act.   According to the Aquino administration’s Health Agenda under the Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2010-0036, all Filipinos must have access guaranteed to affordable health care. —RRD/VS, GMA News