PhilHealth mandate use of e-medical records for YAKAP Program

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has mandated the full use of electronic medical records for all Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) beneficiaries.

In a statement on Tuesday, PhilHealth said that the move ensures healthcare received by beneficiaries would be “safe, accurate, and of the highest quality.”

“YAKAP is built around one goal: to give every Filipino access to comprehensive, preventive care. To deliver on that promise, participating clinics and hospitals must use electronic medical records - so doctors can accurately track patient health history, avoid errors, and ensure continuity of care,” PhilHealth said in a statement.

PhilHealth also noted that a digitized system allowed fewer opportunities for abuse and increased benefits.

"PhilHealth's payment model for providers is designed to cover the operational costs of delivering care at YAKAP standards - including digital infrastructure. How these costs are appropriately reflected is something PhilHealth is actively studying,” the health insurance agency said.

“This is not a checkbox requirement. It is how PhilHealth ensures every Filipino who walks into a YAKAP clinic gets the care they deserve,” it added.

Recently, PhilHealth said that they are now placing importance on early detection and screening efforts under the YAKAP program.

With the addition of a new YAKAP clinic opened at SSS Diliman, the agency intends to increase visibility and accessibility of the clinics to encourage health-seeking behavior from beneficiaries.

They also noted that they are now studying the possibility of replacing several underutilized medicine under the YAKAP and GAMOT program with other more commonly used medication. —VAL, GMA Integrated News