Mindanaotoday.com | PhilHealth: One don’t need to be in hospital
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Every member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is entitled to cost-free consultations, laboratory tests, and take-out medicines once he gets registered with accredited primary care institutions.
“One need not get hospitalized to avail of our services,” Delio Aseron II, PhilHealth-10 Regional Vice President said in a forum under the Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) in Cagayan de Oro on Friday, October 7.
Aseron was referring to the PhilHealth “Konsulta” (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) benefit package that was launched this year as the state health insurer undergoes a five-year transition toward the Universal Health Care system.
PhilHealth Konsulta enrollees, however, must secure an authorization transaction code (ATC) from PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Offices, before availing services from primary care providers (PCPs).
As of Monday, October 3, PhilHealth-10 has accredited 42 PCPs for the PhilHealth Konsulta and these have taken in 8,176 members, so far. Sixty-four accredited PCPs are targeted this year.
Of the 42, seven are in Cagayan de Oro: Justiniano R. Borja General (City) Hospital (JRBGH), Cagayan de Oro City Hospital – Lumbia, City Health Office, and the health clinics in Carmen, Lapasan, Nazareth, and Tablon villages.
These seven PCPs in Cagayan de Oro which could take in a maximum of 157,375 PhilHealth members have registered 3,614 patients, as of 10:30 pm Thursday, October 6.
With a maximum patient load of 20,000, JRBGH has listed in 1,252 PhilHealth Konsulta registrants so far, hence it can enrol 18,748 more until December 31 this year.
Enrolment in PhilHealth Konsulta is to be renewable every year.
Dr. Francis Ramos, PhilHealth-10 regional focal person of PhilHealth Konsulta, said the preventive package for outpatients covers 13 laboratory tests and 21 drugs and medicines which the general population usually need.
Among these tests are CBC (complete blood count) with platelet count, pap smear (Papanicolou test), HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, FBS (fasting blood sugar), ECG (electrocardiogram), chest x-ray, and HBA 1C (Hemoglobin) test.
Based on doctor’s prescription, 21 antimicrobial, fluid and electrolytes, anti-asthma, antipyretics, dyslipidemia, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antithrombotics and antihistamine drugs and medicines.
Those who wish to avail of PhilHealth Konsulta package may inquire and register online through www.philhealth.gov.ph. (MT)
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