Leptospirosis victims can claim reimbursements - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will cover cases of leptospirosis in flood-affected areas to ease the burden of the poor, Malacañang said yesterday.

According to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, effective Aug. 7 all admissions of uncomplicated leptospirosis would be reimbursed as “case rate of P11,000” for all member types.

Valte said the “no balance billing policy” or free treatment for the sponsored program members of PhilHealth would also apply for non-members in areas affected by the recent flooding.

Those diagnosed with uncomplicated leptospirosis should be automatically enrolled as PhilHealth’s sponsored program members.

Valte said the premium payment will also be waived and membership validity period will be from Aug. 1, 2012 to July 31, 2013.

“That takes care of the problem of non-members of PhilHealth belonging to the lowest quintile affected by the flooding in case they will have leptospirosis,” Valte said. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Jerry Botial

She said PhilHealth would also extend the period for filing of benefits from 100 to 120 days from June 8 to Aug. 21, 2012.

Valte said accredited healthcare providers whose claim documents might have been affected by the recent floods were advised to contact the local health insurance office of PhilHealth for assistance.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is bracing for a possible surge of leptospirosis and other-flood related diseases as the number of people affected by last week’s monsoon rains rose to over three million.

Health Assistant Secretary and DOH spokesman Eric Tayag said government hospitals and health workers are preparing for the projected “initial surge” of leptospirosis this coming long weekend.

“The coming long weekend is a very critical period for the DOH because this is time when we would determine whether the current health situation in flood-stricken areas would get worse or better,” Tayag disclosed.

“Although there is still no epidemic of flood-related diseases at this time, the initial surge in leptospirosis might happen in the coming long weekend,” Tayag added.

According to Tayag, the number of people from six regions affected by floods has already ballooned to 3,551,630 and they are at high risk for contracting leptospirosis and other flood-related diseases.

Those affected by the massive flooding in six regions are staying in evacuation centers or with relatives, while there were those who are confined in hospitals or have remained isolated in their flooded homes.

“Until they were able to return to their homes, they are at high risk of acquiring flood-related diseases,” Tayag pointed out.

For the past two weeks, Tayag said the DOH has already recorded 107 leptospirosis cases from three government hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Tayag said leptospirosis has an incubation period of three to 10 days before a patient could manifest the symptoms of the potentially fatal disease. Those who would get fever after wading in floodwaters must immediately consult a doctor.

In the different evacuation centers, Tayag said, they have also recorded 2,474 medical consultations due to acute respiratory infections, fever, skin diseases and diarrhea.

Majority of those who sought medical consultation were children below five years and those suffering from respiratory ailments. More than half of the patients came from Southern Tagalog.

Due to the expected surge in leptospirosis cases, Health Secretary Enrique Ona has ordered all government hospitals to take the necessary preparations, particularly their equipments for dialysis.

Tayag said the DOH is already considering an alternative dialysis procedure in case of shortage of equipment while government doctors were reminded to be on standby.

The DOH has also reminded local government units to ensure sufficient supply of essential drugs in all evacuation centers in their areas.

Tayag said the DOH has already spent some P13 million for the essential medicine they have distributed in all flood-affected regions.

The DOH also deployed 10 medical teams for each flood-affected region to augment the health workers of local government units.

In Caloocan City, the health department announced that the number of cases involving leptospirosis has decreased by 43 percent.

City health records showed there were only 20 cases reported from January to July this year as compared to last year’s 35 cases. At least one person died last year due to the disease.

Despite the lower incidence this year, Mayor Recom Echiverri yesterday ordered city health officers to step up the information campaign against the infection.

The city has also intensified its clean-up campaign and the distribution of the antibiotic among residents.

At least 610 boxes of doxycycline containing 61,000 capsules have been distributed by health officials in the city.

Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas president Councilor RJ Echiverri has ordered barangays nationwide to monitor the flooded areas where residents are at risk for contacting leptospirosis.

Health officials said that the infection is transmitted to humans through water contaminated by animal urine coming in contact with open wounds in the skin.

Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pain and intense headache. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Jerry Botial