UNTIL DEC. 31, 2020

PhilHealth expands dialysis coverage from 90 to 144 sessions

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased the limit for dialysis coverage from 90 to 144 sessions, which is available until December 31, 2020.

In a statement, PhilHealth president Dante Gierran said the state insurer will immediately issue guidelines for the extension of the coverage through a circular.

“The PhilHealth Board of Directors has approved on November 11, 2020 the continuing coverage of hemodialysis sessions beyond the 90-session limit to a maximum of 144 sessions which can be availed until December 31,” he said.

PhilHealth is directing all its regional offices and concerned healthcare facilities to continue honoring all availment beyond the 90-session limit as duly prescribed by a licensed physician.

It also advised patients who have paid for their hemodialysis sessions to file their claims with the nearest PhilHealth office.

Last week, Malacañang said that Gierran was proposing to the PhilHealth board to expand the annual dialysis coverage from 90 sessions to 133.

The extension was brought up after reports on some private clinics that have been ignoring a PhilHealth policy that there is no limit to the dialysis sessions during a state of calamity.

The entire Philippines is under a state of emergency until December 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But some private clinics have been charging patients whose dialysis sessions have exceeded 90. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News