Angara wants PhilHealth to increase case rate for mental health amid COVID-19

The case rate offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the coverage of mental health services must be reviewed and increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday.

During the Senate hearing of the committee on health, Angara pointed out that the current case rate amounts to only P7,800.

"Maybe they could take a look lang dito sa case rates for mental health in light of what our resource persons have shared na it's on the uptick, given the number of people cooked up or quarantined, baka panahon po na gumawa ng different case rates for different cases," the senator said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who chairs the PhilHealth Board, said a review is in the pipeline and will start in the third quarter of 2020.

"Kinakailangan talagang i-review na ito at kung pwedeng ma-ramp up ang support value ng PhilHealth sa iba't ibang kondisyon na nakakaapekto sa mental health ng ating mga kababayan," Duque said.

The National Center for Mental Health noted that the number of distress calls to their mental health hotline surged in recent months when the strict quarantine protocols were imposed.

"We only have about 60 to 80 calls at that time before the COVID issue and when we started to have this lockdown, we have recorded almost 300 to 400 calls per month. Meaning to say there are a lot of people wanting to communicate with experts," NCMH chief Dr. Roland Cortez said, noting that most are consulting about anxiety and depression.

The NCMH USAP hotlines may be reached by the public at 0917 899 8727 and 989 8727. Health workers and displaced OFWs are also encouraged to call the said hotline for mental health concerns.

Meanwhile, Angara also proposed an amendment to Section 5 of the Mental Health Law or Republic Act 11036 to entitle an individual to immediate mental health compensation benefits and special assistance should he or she sustain temporary or permanent mental disability while in the performance of duty as a worker.

"It’s to take into account the case of former military man, si Ragos kasi he was shot as everyone knows, I think he got into a tussle with some policemen because he was not able to take his monthly medications," he said.

"Para hindi na sana maulit 'yung mga ganoong klaseng mga insidente kasi ang conclusion seems to be that had he had access to his medicines perhaps the incident could have been prevented and he could’ve acted in a different manner," he added.

Angara was referring to a former soldier, retired Corporal Winston Ragos, who was shot by a policeman in Quezon City on April 21 amid the enhanced community quarantine. His kin said he was suffering from mental issues.—AOL, GMA News