PhilHealth to increase doctors' professional fees
Doctors practicing in areas experiencing a shortage of health professionals will get additional professional fees for services subsidized by the Philippine Health Insurances Corp.(PhilHealth).
This was among the new benefits planned for next year, according to PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rey Aquino.
Aquino who was here on Thursday for his first regional visit since he assumed office, said the incentive is aimed at encouraging doctors not to leave the country and to be assigned where they are needed most.
The additional fee has yet to be determined but Aquino said it would be "substantial."
The other new benefits include the payment for the fourth normal spontaneous deliveries. At present, PhilHealth pays only for the first to the third normal spontaneous deliveries.
"But we are not encouraging our members to have more babies," Aquino said in jest during a forum with officials.
Aquino said the agency will also provide benefits for the outpatient treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS as part of efforts to lower the incidence rates of malaria and HIV/AIDS.
The package, amounting to P600 per beneficiary, will include payment for laboratories and diagnostics. This will be initially made available through rural health units and health centers.
PhilHealth is also planning to implement a case payment scheme wherein a set amount per service will be paid instead of the fee-for-service payment scheme This will make it easier for both the members and accredited health providers to avail of the benefits and will ensure financial protection for members.
Aquino said the agency is finalizing the scheme to around 280 surgical procedures. This will also involve requiring official receipts from doctors in claiming PhilHealth payments.
PhilHealth also plans to include among its benefits drugs for outpatients with diabetes and hypertension. Aquino said drugs for these ailments are among the expenses of many Filipinos.
PhilHealth has around 66 million members or 73 percent of the country's population and has accredited 1,500 hospitals. Last year, the agency paid benefits amounting to P18 billion.