Shoulder-to-shoulder in bringing out the good news!
This was how Israel Francis A. Pargas, MD., OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) described the relationship between PhilHealth and the Media in promoting and advocating the importance of having social health insurance coverage.
Pargas emphasized the partnership during the First Social Health Insurance Educational Series (SHInES) for members of the media held recently at the Philippine Information Agency office in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. The activity was attended by more than 30 media practitioners from different local radio stations in the province of Cagayan.
The activity was also intended to inculcate among the participants better appreciation for the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) as they relate to the general public through the stories or articles that they write.
The SHInES for Media was immediately followed by the SHInES for Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of Region II at the Provincial Capitol of Isabela. The LCE component was participated in by some 120 participants that included 14 mayors, 13 vice mayors, and 30 Municipal Health Officers.
Among the topics discussed were the basic framework of the NHIP, the role of LCEs in the implementation of the NHIP, new and enhanced PhilHealth benefits as well as the new premium rates.
Resource speakers for both editions of the SHInES were PhilHealth officers Dr. Francisco Z. Soria Jr., OIC-SVP for Health Finance Policy Sector, Daniel F. de Leon, Area Vice President for NCR and Luzon Area , Oscar B. Abadu Jr., Regional Vice President for PhilHealth Regional Office II, Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group and Vergil de Claro, OIC-Senior Manager for Corporate Planning Department.
Among the issues raised by participants during the orientation were concerns pertaining to the Animal Bite Treatment Package (ABTP), No Balance Billing (NBB), reimbursement of benefits, case rate benefit ceilings, inclusion of all government employees in the TSeKAP, updating of records, compensability of certain surgical procedures, and the backlog issues as claimed by the Private Hospital Association(PHAPI). Soria, Abadu, Pargas, and de Leon responded to the questions.
The SHInES will be replicated in other Regions soon. (Emelita M. Retuta)
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