Philhealth: Expanded 144 dialysis sessions ‘effective immediately’ until Dec. 31

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) circular expanding the limit of dialysis sessions this year is effectively immediately, an official of the agency said Friday.

“Alam ninyo po sa tanong ninyo kung magagamit na po ito, ang good news po magagamit na po ito ng mga qualified na pasyente dahil po ‘yung ating inilabas na circular ay effective immediately,” Corporate Communication senior manager Rey Baleña said at Laging Handa..

(The good news is that this can be availed immediately by qualified patients because the circular we released is effective immediately.)

PhilHealth Circular 2022-0017, released Wednesday, allows members and their dependents with Stage 5 chronic kidney diseases to avail a maximum of 144 hemodialysis sessions this year.

Dialysis sessions were previously limited to 90. Based on the circular, the 91st to 144th additional sessions shall be used exclusively for outpatient hemodialysis.

Baleña, however, said this is only effective until December 31, 2022.

He said the members and their dependents should ensure that they are enrolled in the database.

“Dapat po siguruhin nila na naka-enroll po sila sa ating PhilHealth dialysis database. Mahalaga po ito para po ma-avail nila ‘yung ating benepisyo,” Baleña said.

(They should ensure that they are enrolled in our PhilHealth dialysis database. It’s important so they could avail the benefit.)

He also reminded CKD patients that they may also avail of other dialysis treatments such as peritoneal dialysis.

Meanwhile, Baleña said the 144 sessions may be availed at all freestanding dialysis centers or healthcare institutions accredited by PhilHealth. He said 518 freestanding dialysis clinics nationwide have been accredited by the agency.

He also clarified that unused dialysis sessions will not carry over next year.

“Batay po sa ating circular ay hindi po kaya ‘yun pong mga matitirang sessions ngayong taon ay hindi po ‘yan pupwedeng i-carry over o ilipat sa susunod na taon,” he said.

(Based on our circular, the remaining sessions this year cannot be carried over next year.)

According to Baleña, there is also a special privilege given in times of calamity.

“Gaya nga sa probinsya ng Abra, ganyan ang situation ngayon diyan dahil sa lindol, ang isa sa privilege na ine-extend ng PhilHelath sa pagpa-file ng claim, ay ine-extend natin ’yan,” he said.

(Like the situation in Abra because of the earthquake, one of the privileges we give is the extension in the filing of claims.)

"‘Yung 60 days na usual filing period ng PhilHealth, ‘yan ay pinapalawig natin to 120 days. So merong more or less apat na buwan na palugit po tayo,” he added.

(The 60-day usual filing period of PhilHealth is extended to 120 days. More or less 4 months.)—AOL, GMA News