The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has augmented the dialysis benefits and coverage for eligible patients this year, an official announced on Friday.
In the Laging Handa public briefing, PhilHealth Corporate Communication senior manager Rey Baleña said the state insurer is now offering 144 outpatient hemodialysis sessions.
It was previously limited to 90 sessions.
The maximum coverage has also been raised to P374,000 from the previous P234,000.
“Qualified patients can already avail of this because the circular we released is effective immediately,” Baleña said, noting that qualified patients include those with chronic kidney disease stage 5.
Moreover, patients with chronic kidney disease can also avail of the peritoneal dialysis benefit, which costs at least P270,000 annually, as well as their kidney transplant benefit.
“If the patient would have the chance to get a transplant and they have a kidney donor, then PhilHealth can grant P600,000 for the kidney transplantation,” he said.
Baleña noted that the circular would only be effective until 31 December 2022, and patients can avail of the sessions at all freestanding dialysis centers and PhilHealth-accredited health care institutions.
Patients should ensure that they are enrolled in the PhilHealth dialysis database to avail the benefits, he added.