News
PhilHealth, DOH sign MOA for enhanced benefits for OFWs - June 26, 2007
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) recently signed a memorandum of agreement to expand and enhance the current Outpatient Benefit (OPB) Package under the Overseas Workers Program and make it more responsive to the needs of overseas Filipino workers and their legal dependents. Under the agreement, PhilHealth will allocate P6 million for the DOH as a global budget for the initial implementation of the Enhanced OWP Outpatient Benefit Package from July to December 2007.
The benefit package also adopts a zero co-pay system, meaning there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for OWP members and dependents availing themselves of the services rendered by DOH hospitals. Show signing the MOA are (L-R): PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Operations Melinda C. Mercado, DOH Director IV for the National Center for Health Facility Development Dr. Criselda Abesamis, DOH Undersecretary Dr. Ethelyn Nieto, PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Lorna O. Fajardo and PhilHealth Vice President for Quality Assurance Research and Policy Development Group and Officer-in-charge of the OVP-Health Finance Policy and Services Sector Dr. Madeleine R. Valera.
The new package will be available to OWP members and their dependents starting July 1, 2007. In implementing the Enhanced OPB Package, the DOH, through the National Center for Health Facility and Development will manage and release the budget to the Hospital Administrator of the participating DOH hospitals and will oversee and supervise the implementation of the benefit package. Nieto and Fajardo are seen exchanging copies of the signed MOA. (Photos by Nitto G. Pineda, CorComm)