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MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has released P12.321 billion to nearly 500 accredited health institutions as the country faces the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the seventh report of the President Rodrigo Duterte to Congress.
In the report, Duterte said the funds were released to 494 PhilHealth-accredited healthcare institutions through its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) beginning May 6.
Duterte said Philhealth has also paid more than 3.6 million Philhealth claims, equivalent to more than P35 billion from January 1 to May 6 this year.
PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales previously said that a P30 billion budget, reserved specifically for the COVID-19 response, was prepared to help patients affected by the disease.
In addition to the P30 billion budget for the COVID-19 response, the agency also has checking accounts that can be converted into cash equivalent to another P30 billion.
Morales, however, recalled that while PhilHealth still has funds in the midst of the pandemic, the government must still be “very careful about our spending.”
PhilHealth is implementing a new package that divides patients into four categories, depending on the severity of their condition.
Coverage for mild pneumonia is set at P43,997, moderate pneumonia at P143,267, severe pneumonia at P333,519, and critical pneumonia at P786,384.
JPV
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For more information about COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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