May 30, 2022
(L-R) DOH Undersecretary and Chairperson of UHC Core Group Mario Villaverde, PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran, PAGCOR Chairperson and CEO Andrea Domingo, PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Pinili, PhilHealth Board Member representing Direct Contributors Jason Roland Valdez, and OIC-Deputy Treasurer and PhilHealth Board Member Eduardo Anthony Mariño III showing the signed Joint Circular that will operationalize the allocations for UHC.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) have signed today the Joint Circular that will operationalize the allocations for Universal Health Care in accordance with Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act.
In simple ceremony hosted by PhilHealth President and CEO Atty. Dante A. Gierran, the event was attended by OIC-Deputy Treasurer and PhilHealth Board Member Eduardo Anthony G. Mariño III on behalf of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Undersecretary Mario Villaverde on behalf of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, PAGCOR Chairperson and CEO Andrea D. Domingo, and PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Simeon P. Pinili.
The joint circular prescribes the guidelines that will “operationalize the efficient and sustainable funding from PCSO, PAGCOR and National Government to PhilHealth’s individual based services under the Universal Health Care Program, pursuant to Rule IX, Section 37.2 in relation to Section 37.3 of the IRR of RA 11223”.
The UHC Law provides that 50 percent of the National Government share from the income of PAGCOR as provided for in Presidential Decree No. 1869, as amended; and 40 percent of the Charity Fund, net of Documentary Stamp Tax Payments, and mandatory contributions of the PCSO as provided for in RA No. 1169, as amended, shall be transferred to PhilHealth for the improvement of its benefit packages that will cater to the vast majority of members here and abroad.
Among the benefits that will be improved in consultation with PAGCOR and PCSO include select medical and surgical procedures; expansion of case rates for hemodialysis up to 156 sessions; enhancement Z benefit packages for selected orthopedic implants, post kidney transplant, breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, open heart surgery for children (ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of fallot); and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
The needed funding for the said benefit expansion shall be released to PhilHealth through the General Appropriations Act starting the year 2023.
In his message, Gierran said that “this infusion of funds from PAGCOR and PCSO will help us achieve Universal Health Care” especially where improving member benefits is concerned.