Press Release - PhilHealth to study the removal of single confinement policy after prodding from Bong Go

"Dapat masanay kang tumulong sa mahihirap," firmly said Senate Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Christopher "Bong" Go as he urged Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) CEO and President Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr., to scrap its single period of confinement policy.

A single period of confinement, according to PhilHealth Circular No. 0035, series of 2013, means admissions and re-admissions due to the same illness or procedure within a 90-calendar day period shall only be compensated with one case rate benefit.

During the Senate Committee on Health Public Hearing on August 20 which Senator Go presided on as Chairperson of the said committee, Ledesma gave his commitment that PhilHealth will thoroughly study the revision and the possible removal of the abovementioned policy, saying there has been a flaw in the Circular.

Senator Go, in his opening statement raised the policy of single period of confinement, "Bakit ganyan ang polisiya? Kunyari nagka-kumplikasyon ka sa panganganak pag nagka-bleeding, makaka-claim ka base sa case rate. Pero sa susunod na linggo, pag mag-bleed ka ulit, hindi ka na makakaclaim."

Go added, "Kung ma-confine ang isang tao dahil sa diarrhea at nagamit na nya ang PhilHealth nya, hindi na sya pwedeng magka-diarrhea within 90 days dahil hindi na nya maa-avail ang PhilHealth benefits for the same illness. Mapipigilan mo ba ang diarrhea? Mapipigilan mo ba ang bleeding o pneumonia? Pwede ba nating sabihin, sorry po pero hindi ka na pwedeng magka-diarrhea within the next 90 days."

By not covering the same illness, Go noted, some doctors are forced to give a different diagnosis to help patients to be able to avail of their PhilHealth benefits.

Senator Go, in the same hearing, called the attention of PhilHealth to increase their benefits in light of the recent spikes of illnesses, including leptospirosis, dengue, and the most recent, monkeypox.

The senator from Davao City underscored that health equates with the life of every Filipino, recalling a patient from Ozamis who wanted to remove oxygen support to avoid further hospital costs.

"Katumbas ng kalusugan ang buhay po ng bawat Pilipino," Go noted.

Related to this, Senator Go