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Revoke memo cutting full coverage for COVID-19 treatment by April 14, Castro urges PhilHealth


ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Thursday urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to revoke its memorandum stating that it will only cover the full cost of treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) until April 14.

The national health insurer made the announcement last week in a letter to all accredited hospitals and health care facilities accommodating COVID-19 patients.

In the letter, PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales said that after April 14, the PhilHealth will continue providing financial coverage to COVID-19 cases through a “recomputed case rate.” 

In a statement, Castro said the novel coronavirus knows no deadline and that it will not stop from infecting people after April 14, so the coverage of testing and treatment should continue.

"Bakit humingi pa ng emergency powers ang presidente kung hindi rin naman niya ito gagamitin at pagbabayarin pa rin ang mga mamamayan para sa pagpapagamot at pagpapatest ng COVID-19?" Castro said.

"Kailangan agad na ibasura ng PhilHealth ang memo na nagsasabing hanggang April 14 na lamang nila sasagutin ang buong halaga ng pagpapagamot sa COVID-19," she added.

Castro also said that it is unlikely that the virus will stop spreading if people are more afraid of the medical costs for COVID-19 testing and treatment than the virus itself.

"Without mass testing, quarantine, isolation and testing facilities in communities, and without assurance that treatment for COVID-19 will not bury families in huge debt from medical cost, the government will not succeed in defeating this virus," she said.

Castro also said that isolating only those who can afford the testing and treatment for COVID-19 will not stop the further spread of the virus.

"PhilHealth should revoke its memo stating it will only shoulder full cost of testing and treatment until April 14 and the Duterte administration should ensure adequate medical solutions be immediately conducted as the enhanced community quarantine is extended," she added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News

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