MANILA, March 9 ------ The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has expanded its Z Benefits Package for open-heart surgeries and introduced a new heart valve repair and replacement package, enhancing financial support for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
In a news release, the state insurer noted that cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the country. According to the World Health Organization, about 32 percent of deaths were caused by CVDs. To strengthen financial protection for heart patients, PhilHealth has increased the package rates for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Closure of Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), and Total Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
The CABG now ranges from PHP660,000 to PHP960,000, up from PHP550,000; the VSD ranges from PHP498,000 to PHP614,000, from previous PHP250,000; and the TOF costs up to PHP614,000, previously at P320,000. PhilHealth also launched the Heart Valve Repair and Replacement Z Benefits Package, covering PHP642,000 to PHP 810,000, along with cardiac rehabilitation packages worth PHP 15,000 for adults and PHP 6,500 for children.
Patients with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease undergoing treatment may also enroll in the outpatient benefit package under PhilHealth Circular 2019-0005. Qualified members and dependents can avail of these without co-payments if admitted under ward accommodations in PhilHealth-contracted facilities nationwide. Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., PhilHealth and the Department of Health ensure that essential healthcare services are more accessible to all Filipinos with 131 specialty centers established nationwide as of December 2023.
Source: pna.gov.ph
Comments