PhilHealth funds enough to cover COVID-19 patients amid escalating cases -official

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has enough funds to shoulder up to P786,384 of the total hospital bills of coronavirus disease 2019 patients amid the escalating number of cases.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales said their financial managers have calculated the funds and assured COVID-19 patients that assistance will be provided to them.

“Oo naman, sa tingin naman namin. Siyempre, sa ginawang calculation ng ating mga financial managers, desisyon namin kaya namang panindigan itong case rate na ito,” he said.

The state-insurer started to impose limits on the assistance for COVID-19 patients who are admitted on Wednesday, April 15, and onward.

Under the new so-called case rate system, patients will receive P43,997 for those with mild pneumonia, P143,267 for moderate pneumonia, P333,519 for severe pneumonia, and P786,384 for critical pneumonia.

PhilHealth previously said it will shoulder the full cost of treatment for the deadly infection. Vice president for corporate affairs and spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo explained: “Nagkokolekta pa lang kami ng data during that time. Pero ngayon naka-come up na kami ng tamang case rate naman, depende sa seriousness ng sakit."

Morales said the new case rate system is for long-term implementation.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Morales said PhilHealth already positioned P8.3 billion to hospitals from the P30 billion budget dedicated to COVID-19 patients.

2 solons

Meanwhile, two party-list lawmakers -- Bagong Henerasyon's Bernadette Herrera-Dy and Anakalusugan's Mike Defensor -- have joined the call for PhilHealth to continue shouldering the full cost of treatment for coronavirus disease.

In a statement, Defensor, vice chair of the House Committee on Health, said PhilHealth has the resources and the support of the national government to absorb the entire cost of COVID-19 treatment.

“For this year, Philhealth expects to collect more than P104 billion in contributions from members. In addition to that, it is receiving a budgetary subsidy of P71.3 billion. This means that it has at least P175 billion, excluding income from investments,” he said.

He added that in 2018 alone, PhilHealth had collected P118 billion in contributions and posted a net profit of P8 billion.

For her part, Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy said now is not the time for PhilHealth to impose financial burdens on citizens when it comes to health care.

"It must continue full coverage of all COVID-19 confirmed, probable, and suspect patients. Every single one. No exceptions, no loopholes, and no excuses," she said. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News