PhilHealth to start expansion of benefit package for OFWs

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will start on September the expansion and enhancement of its Outpatient Benefit (OPB) Package for overseas Filipino workers and their dependents.

PhilHealth and the Department of Health already signed a memorandum of agreement allocating P6 million to cover the initial enforcement of the OPB package, under the overseas workers program.

Lorna Fajardo, acting PhilHealth president and chief executive officer, said the OPB package “adopts a zero co-pay system” that frees members and dependents from expenses when they avail themselves of the services in DOH hospitals.

Under the agreement, PhilHealth will provide technical assistance and other support services to the DOH for the implementation and administration of the package, Fajardo said,

“We will also monitor and evaluate the implementation of the benefit package to make sure that it is done in accordance with the objectives of the National Health Insurance Program,” she said.

Among the enhanced benefits for OFWs under the program are consultations, and diagnostic services (complete blood count, urinalysis, fecalysis, fasting blood sugar, blood typing, hemoglobin or hematocrit, electrocardiogram and hepatitis B screening test).

Also included are preventive health services (rectal exam, screening for cervical cancer), breast exam, nutrition counseling, visual acuity exam, psychological evaluation, and evaluation and treatment for urinary tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection and acute gastro-enteritis.

The new package will be available initially on September in 14 DOH hospitals at the National Capital Region, including Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, and Rizal Medical Center, among others.

Then from October onwards, the package will be made available at DOH hospitals in other parts of the country. PhilHealth will release soon the list of these hospitals.

PhilHealth has tapped the services of DOH hospitals nationwide for the enhanced OPB for members and their dependents.

The DOH, through the National Center for Health Facility and Development, will manage and release the budget to the administrator of the participating hospital, and will oversee and supervise the enforcement of the benefit package.

It will also upgrade the administrative and operational capabilities of participating hospitals to conform to PhilHealth’s accreditation standards. — Jasmin R. Uy/RAE