Santander creates PhilHealth capitation fund for indigents

CEBU, Philippines - The municipality of Santander, at the approval of the local council, is creating a PhilHealth capitation fund from the proceeds of the outpatient’s consultation and diagnostic benefit package provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. 

Council pro-tempore Jesusa Estano, who authored the resolution, said that the capitation fund will be intended for qualified families under the indigent sector component of the National Insurance Program.

“This priority program is aimed at setting into motion a meaningful health care financing and delivery mechanism anchored on local government,” Estano said, adding that the “creation of the PhilHealth Capitation Fund is necessary in order to attain the purpose and the objectives of programs for indigents”.

The use, management and disposition of the PhilHealth capitation fund will be done on a quarterly basis by the corporation – initial release will be subject to prior accreditation of the municipality-owned and managed Rural Health Units and the payment of the premium contributions by the municipality.

The disbursement and liquidation of the capitation fund will be 80 percent for supplies, medicines and equipment; 20 percent mandatory provision for administrative cost which includes that 50 percent will be accrued to the physician, 25 percent to the other rural health unit personnel, and 25 percent be utilized for other administrative cost such as office supplies, transportation expenses, and others.

Over 700 rural health units in the country are now providing outpatient diagnostic and consultation services to indigent families enrolled under the Sponsored Program of the PhilHealth. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)