PGH Receives Php 22.8 Million from PhilHealth for Heart Attack Patients

by Info @Brand Zone | Apr. 14, 2025

PhilHealth PGH Check Turnover

Over Php 22.8 million was handed over to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last April 11, 2025. This was payment for the initial batch of claims for PhilHealth’s benefit package for Ischemic Heart Disease - Acute Myocardial Infarction (IHD-AMI), a disease commonly known as heart attack. Just three months after its enhancement, the package has been beneficial for at least 77 claims for heart attack patients seen at the PGH as of March 2025. 

PGH Medical Director Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi was present to receive the check from PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado during the simple ceremonial turnover at the PGH. “Sa ibinigay pong pagkakataon na ma-improve ang service to heart attack patients, record high ang ating serbisyo — wala na pong charity na heart attack patient ngayon. Iyan ang improvement na gusto nating makita. And I think with this current administration of PhilHealth, we will be seeing more of that,” remarked Dr. Legaspi. He also recognized the unwavering support of the PhilHealth Regional Office – NCR, led by Dr. Bernadette Lico who was similarly present at the event, in ensuring that PGH patients appropriately receive the financial risk protection afforded to them by PhilHealth. 

Present as well were some of the patients and their families who were beneficiaries of the package —one of whom was Mrs. Juvy B. Busayong, wife of patient Jose Busayong from Calamba City, Laguna. “At first, hesitant kami kasi alam naman natin kapag narinig natin angiogram expected na natin na expensive,” she testified, “pero one of the doctors nagsabing may package na ang PhilHealth at wala na kaming babayaran. Siyempre, natuwa kami! Napakalaking pribilehiyo na kami ay makatanggap ng ganoong package. Gusto naming magpasalamat sa PhilHealth sa package na ibinigay dito sa amin. Sana po ay marami pa kayong matulungan at marami pang buhay ang ma-save.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Mercado reiterates PhilHealth’s commitment in bringing life-saving health services closer to every Filipino by ensuring prompt claims reimbursements to more hospitals. 

“Ang P22.8 milyong bayad na ito sa PGH ay simula pa lamang. Kami ay iikot pa sa iba’t ibang mga rehiyon para ating personal na tiyakin ang mabilis na pagpoproseso at pagbabayad ng claims para sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ating mga ospital sa mga miyembrong may sakit sa puso," Dr. Mercado affirmed.  

The IHD-AMI benefit package offers coverage up to Php 523,853 which can be availed at all accredited Levels 1 to 3 public and private health facilities with the capacity to deliver the necessary services.

For more information on the enhanced Ischemic Heart Disease - Acute Myocardial Infarction package, members may call PhilHealth’s 24/7 touch points at (02) 866-225-88 or at mobile numbers (Smart) 0998-857-2957, 0968-865-4670, (Globe) 0917-1275987 or 0917-1109812. ###

In photo are (L-R) PhilHealth VP for NCR Dr. Bernadette Lico, Dr. Mercado, AMI beneficiaries  Jose Brozo, Juvy Busayong (wife of patient Jose Busayong), Dennis Garcia, PGH Medical Director Dr. Legaspi and Deputy Director Dr. Margarita Lat-Luna. 

#Rise30 

#SamasamangPagangatParaSaBagongPilipinas

In Case You Missed It: PhilHealth Animal Bite Package covers PHP 5,850 for services against highly fatal rabies

by Info @Brand Zone | Mar. 19, 2025

PhilHealth PR No. 2025-16 March 18, 2025

The Department of Health announced that for the year 2024, all 426 recorded rabies cases resulted in deaths. Forty-five percent (193) of these were bites from domestic pets, and of  that percentage, more than half were of unknown vaccination status.  

“Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga miyembro na huwag mag-atubiling magpatingin kung sila ay  kinagat o di kaya’y kinalmot ng hayop, alaga man o hindi. Ang rabies ay isang lubhang  nakamamatay na sakit ngunit maaari itong maiwasan kung agarang mabibigyan ng bakuna,”  said Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, PhilHealth President and CEO.  

Rabies remains to be a significant global health threat, causing 60,000 to 70,000 reported deaths annually. The Philippines ranks sixth among countries with the highest rabies incidence. In fact, from January 1 to March 1 of this year, 55 rabies cases have been tallied.  

In recognition of the burden of rabies in the country this National Rabies Awareness Month, PhilHealth reiterates that there is a benefit package that members could avail to cover for services against rabies. The Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package, which has been  increased to P5,850 from the previous P3,000, covers essential post-exposure prophylaxis including rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin for immediate protection, local wound  care, tetanus toxoid and anti-tetanus serum, antibiotics, and supplies which include syringes,  alcohol and antiseptics.  

“Kami sa PhilHealth ay nakikiisa sa National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee sa  kanilang kampanyang rabies-free na pusa’t aso, kaligtasan ng pamilyang Pilipino. Ang ABT  Package ay maaaring makuha sa higit 700 accredited ABT Package Providers sa bansa, at  patuloy pa natin itong dinadagdagan. Gayunpaman, pinaaalalahanan natin ang publiko na  ang unang hakbang sa pag-iwas sa rabies ay ang pagpapabakuna ng ating mga alagang  hayop. Let us all be responsible pet owners,” added Dr. Mercado. 

For more details on anti-rabies benefits and other packages, members may call PhilHealth’s  24/7 touch points at (02) 866-225-88 or at mobile numbers (Smart) 0998-857-2957, 0968- 865-4670, (Globe) 0917-1275987 or 0917-1109812.  

#Rise30 

#SamasamangPagangatParaSaBagongPilipinas 

PhilHealth: President In Action: Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado convenes the Technical Advisory Council to refine disease coverage selection process

by Info @Brand Zone | Mar. 14, 2025

Council Members consist of Dr. Tessa Tan-Torres Edejer, health economist who served as  the Coordinator of the Unit on Costs, Effectiveness, Expenditure and Priority Setting in the  Department of Health Financing and Governance (HGF), WHO in Geneva; Dr. Carlo Irwin  A. Panelo, health systems, policy and financing expert; Honesto A. Nuqui, Jr., actuary,  mathematician, and seasoned insurance executive; Dr. Michael L. Tee, university professor,  scientist, and chancellor; Dr. Valerie Gilbert T. Ulep, health economist and well-published  senior research fellow; Dr. Vivencio Jose Villaflor, a practicing surgeon and seasoned  hospital administrator; and Henry Aguda, information technology and digital transformation  expert.

.PhilHealth PR No. 2025-15 | March 13, 2025 | Reference:  Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas

The PCEO Mercado convened the Technical Advisory Council (TAC) for its second meeting  on March 10, 2025. The session focused on improving actuarial assumptions and refining  the disease coverage selection process. 

During the meeting, experts discussed practical ways to strengthen actuarial projections that  will directly benefit PhilHealth members. The council emphasized the need for more detailed,  market-based assumptions that assess whether current healthcare providers can actually  deliver the covered services.  

"By improving our actuarial assumptions, we can better predict healthcare costs and  utilization patterns," explained the PCEO Mercado. "This means we can expand benefits in a  sustainable way while ensuring members can actually access the care we're promising." 

The TAC supported the President and CEO's direction to expand coverage for high-cost,  high-burden diseases to increase access to critical services. For members, this translates to  greater financial protection against catastrophic health expenses that previously caused  significant hardship for many Filipino families. 

"Going granular means understanding if our current healthcare infrastructure can deliver the  services we're covering, and developing strategies to create robust markets where they don't  exist. Ang ibig sabihin po nito, alam natin hindi lang kung nasaan ang mga doktor at iba pang  mga propesyonal, ngunit alam din natin kung ilang pasyente ang kaya nilang tingnan sa  isang araw nang hindi bumababa ang kalidad ng serbisyong pang-medikal," added the  PhilHealth President and CEO. "When we promise coverage for a condition, we want to  ensure our members can find qualified providers to deliver that care without excessive out of-pocket expenses or long travel times." 

Council members committed to developing a practical framework that will guide this  expansion while ensuring service delivery capability.

#Rise30

#SamasamangPagangatSaBagongPilipinas