AMID the transfer of the P89.9 billion excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury, Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee filed House Resolution No. 1900, urging the state health insurer to implement another round of 30% increase in all its benefit packages and coverage.
Lee’s HR 1900 seeks to determine how PhilHealth can expeditiously increase the current benefits and introduce new benefit packages such as the inclusion of vital diagnostic tests and other essential laboratory exams as outpatient services.
“PhilHealth shall serve as the national healthcare provider and not as an investment powerhouse. It is mandated and obliged to utilize most of the funds to increase the program’s benefits and decrease the amount of members’ contributions,” Lee said.
“It is best for the interest of the beneficiaries and contributors of the National Health Insurance Program to increase all benefit packages and coverage of PhilHealth to ultimately lower the out-of pocket costs of Filipinos for their healthcare needs,” he added.
To complement the said Resolution, Lee also wrote a letter to PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. last August 8 urging the agency to implement another 30% increase in all its benefit packages saying, “The availability of substantial funds shows that PhilHealth can expand its benefit packages and can even introduce new benefits to cover more of the actual hospitalization costs of beneficiaries.”
It can be recalled that Lee, a staunch health advocate, fervently pushed for the 30% across-the-board increase in PhilHealth benefits implemented last February 14. This came after he revealed during the 2024 budget briefing of the PhilHealth last September 2023, that the agency had P466 billion investible funds and P68.4 billion net income, aside from the more than P100 billion government subsidy every year.
According to the Bicolano lawmaker, the availability of the P89.9 billion excess funds makes it the best time to increase the benefits offered by PhilHealth by another 30%.
“Imbes na sa PhilHealth bumawas ng pondo, kunin na lang sa mga GOCCs (Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations) na hindi related sa social services ang mandato at may iba pang excess funds mula sa kanilang investments at profit,” Lee remarked.
“Napakarami pang wala sa benefit package ng PhilHealth tulad ng PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan, CT (Computed Tomography) Scan, at MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Ito po yung mga kailangang tests para malaman kung may malalang sakit, pero napakamahal ng mga ito. Kailangan man, paano ito maipapagawa kung wala o kapos sa budget? Kaya dapat unahin na ma-cover muna lahat ng PhilHealth ang mga serbisyong ito.”
“At kapag may sobra pa sa pondo ng PhilHealth pagkatapos ng mga additional benefits, pwedeng i-suspend o babaan ang contribution ng mga ordinaryong empleyado at gamitin sa pagpapaunlad ng healthcare facilities,” he added
The solon from Bicol also renewed his commitment to boost information dissemination efforts to equip farmers, fisherfolk, and all Filipinos nationwide with the knowledge on their PhilHealth benefits and contributions.
It can be recalled that last July 1, AGRI Party-list and PhilHealth entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration in providing more access to health services and benefits provided by the state health insurer for agricultural workers and all Filipinos.
“Isa sa mga pangunahing pangamba ng mga Pilipino, bukod sa pagkain, ang kalusugan. Nandyan lagi yung takot na magkasakit dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital, baka maubos ang ipon o lalong mabaon sa utang. Kaya ang pondong dapat para sa kalusugan, gamitin sa kalusugan, para maibsan ang pangamba at pasanin ng Pilipino,” he said.
“Filipinos deserve better so we should demand better health services. Kasabay ng pagsusulong ng murang pagkain, tiyak na trabaho at dagdag na kita, yung libreng pagpapagamot, yung patas at mapagmalasakit na serbisyong pangkalusugan, gawin na natin!” he added.
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