SEN. Bong Go lauded PhilHealth’s announcement of expanded benefits covering rare diseases and mobility devices under its health care packages.
The reforms are expected to ease the financial burden on affected families and provide better access to essential health services, said Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
“These reforms are long overdue and greatly needed. Many Filipinos suffer from the lack of proper support for their medical needs,” he said in Filipino. “This is a step to alleviate their suffering and ensure reliable support.”
PhilHealth’s new “Z-Benefits Package for Rare Diseases” will cover 10 rare genetic conditions, such as Maple Syrup Urine, Gaucher, and Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
Benefit rates for the diseases, which affect an estimated 443,000 Filipinos, range from P99,000 to P739,000 — an increase of over 1,000 percent compared to previous coverage.
In addition, assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, and canes will now be covered under PhilHealth’s outpatient Konsulta package.
“Recently, PhilHealth’s approval of the preventive oral health benefits package, which includes dental care, was in the news. This victory is part of our ongoing crusade to reform health programs. Our constant vigilance during our Senate hearings is worth it,” Go said.
During a series of committee hearings, he pressed the state insurer to expand its benefits and address long-standing issues in its policies.
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