PhilHealth

1st PhilHealth Central Luzon Health Care Providers Summit draws over 1,000 partners 01-26-2024

A total of 1,123 partner health care providers (HCPs) have participated in the first Central Luzon Health Summit: “Universal Health Care (UHC) Gains and Challenges held on January 26, 2024 in Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga.”

PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr., and Acting Vice President for PhilHealth Regional Office III (PRO III) Henry V. Almanon led the event with the theme PhilHealth PULSE (Promoting UHC through Linkage, Synergy, and Engagement) which calls on all stakeholders and members to have “One PULSE, One Beat, One Team, One Road to UHC.”

During the event, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, a UHC advocate, emphasized the need for support and engagement of the local chief executives (LCEs), government and private organizations, and health care providers to ensure the success of PhilHealth programs. Vice Gov. Pineda also stressed the need for expanded programs to fund the health needs of the provinces, such as preventive care, rising cases of tuberculosis, and AIDS, among others.

On the other hand, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire supported the need for greater accessibility of quality health care providers in all areas, saying “Dapat bawat Filipino ay rehistrado sa PhilHealth at makagamit ng benepisyo, dapat may mapupuntahang pasilidad, may doktor, mga equipment, at gamot, para makagamit ng serbisyo sa kalusugan”. Dapat lahat tulung-tulong para matupad ang Universal Health Care.”

Ledesma expressed PhilHealth’s full support for LCEs, HCPs, and key partners to successfully implement UHC. He underscored UHC’s promise that all Filipinos are covered under the National Health Insurance Program. As such, all can easily access their PhilHealth benefits in times of need. Ledesma reported that 96.2%, or 12.4 million, of Central Luzon’s population has been registered with PhilHealth. He also mentioned the expanded and new benefits that guarantee financial risk protection for all.

The PhilHealth Chief reiterated the continuous implementation of 156 hemodialysis per year, enhanced coverage for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and high-risk pneumonia, as well as the increase of monthly limits on cataract claims from 50 to 200 per month per PhilHealth-accredited eye surgeon to accommodate more patients. All these are in addition to the Outpatient Mental Health Package, which was launched last year. He also encouraged health care providers to apply for PhilHealth accreditation to increase the availability of benefit packages to the public.

In terms of primary care, PhilHealth allocated funds for Konsulta Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) and invited all capable facilities to be accredited providers of the benefit package. Ledesma also unveiled the implementation of PhilHealth GAMOT, or the Outpatient Drug Benefit, in 2024, which will increase the current 21 medicines covered by Konsulta to 53.

As of December 2023, 1.6 million beneficiaries in Region III were registered with Konsulta. In 2024, PRO III will be conducting Konsulta Caravans in different areas to enlist more members and to empower them to avail of primary care services in their communities.

Finally, Ledesma recognized and valued the prompt payments to partner health care providers, which was the result of stronger collaboration, engagement, and reconciliation efforts with partners, enhancing efficiency in the processing of claims.

PhilHealth Officers who also took part in the event were Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, Area Vice President for North and Central Luzon Walter R. Bacareza, Chief Financial Officer Renato L. Limsiaco, Jr., Arbitration Vice President Atty. Jay R. Villegas, PRO III-A Acting Branch Manager Dr. Rowena Zabat-San Mateo, PRO III-B Acting Branch Manager Arlan M. Granali, PRO III officers, and resource speakers from USAID.

Other UHC champions, who led health programs and services in their respective areas, were also present during the summit: Bataan 3rd District Rep. Maria Angela “Gila” S. Garcia; Pusong Pinoy Partylist Rep. Congressman Jernie Jett V. Nisay; Orion, Bataan Mayor Antonio L. Raymundo Jr., who is also the President of the Bataan Mayors’ League; Moncada, Tarlac Mayor Estelita M. Aquino; and health officers of the cities and municipalities of Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora. Other significant partners present during the event were DOH Region III Regional Director Dr. Corazon I. Flores, President and CEO of Clark Development Corporation, Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, representatives from the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP), the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), and media partners.

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