Aside from their existing benefit packages that aim to lessen the financial responsibilities of their members, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) introduced new insurance packages to enhance existing benefits this year, in time for the celebration of the National Health Insurance Month this February.
Dr. Fe Esperanza Pilando, Head Benefit Administration Section of the PhilHealth Regional Office CAR, said that acute myocardial infarction is one of the priority cases.
One of the key additions is the Ischemic Heart Disease – Acute Myocardial Infarction package, which prioritizes treatment for heart attack patients. This package includes four services: percutaneous coronary intervention, fibrinolysis, emergency medical services with coordinated referral and interfacility transfer, and cardiac rehabilitation.
PhilHealth has also introduced an Outpatient Emergency Care package, which offers a total of 342 services, including consultation fees, downward referral services, 38 imaging procedures, 97 laboratory tests, and 187 therapeutic procedures and medications.
Further, preventive oral health services in primary care are now covered, allowing members to receive routine preventive oral care, mouth examination/oral screening, dental cleaning, fluoride varnish application, and pit and fissure sealant application.
These services are available at health centers or private dental clinics affiliated with the Konsulta program.
Meanwhile, the existing and enhanced packages are the Z benefit for kidney transplantation, Z benefit for peritoneal dialysis (adult and pedia), 50% adjustment of select case rates, extracapsular cataract extraction with insertion of intraocular lens (IOL) benefit package, and optometric services for children 0-15 years old benefit package.
Dr. Pilando also mentioned that PhilHealth is planning to include physical therapy services and the provision of wheelchairs in future benefit packages. Members seeking more information can visit the official Facebook page of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Cordillera.
City informs the public about mpox, encouraging laboratory testing.
Following the four reported positive mpox cases in Baguio City, Dr. Donnabel Panes from the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU), discussed how the virus is transmitted aside from sexual means, its symptoms, treatment, the safety precautions, and encouraged the public to get tested when they see warning signs, especially if they are high risk patients.
The virus can be transmitted through five ways — first, through close physical contact with the rash, scabs, or wounds of a carrier, second, through skin to skin or mouth to skin contact like massage, hug, and kiss.
It can also be transmitted after a prolonged face-to-face contact when saliva or other bodily fluids and contaminated objects are touched. Aside from touching, respiratory secretions are also a medium of transmission.
After being in contact with the virus, fever and rashes will then emerge and should be a cause of concern. Therefore, laboratory testing and professional consultation are encouraged.
They also advised the public to keep a daily log or diary to note the people they came in contact with for faster tracking if ever they are found positive of mpox and to allow easier treatment which includes isolation, incubation, and continuous monitoring.
Individuals who are more prone to the mpox virus are those with multiple sexual partners, men who have sex with men, people physically close to those with mpox, health workers, and travelers from countries experiencing an outbreak like Congo and Burundi.
When confirmed to be positive, the patient is isolated and incubated for four (4) weeks or until the rashes or lesions are fully healed.
Although, the type of mpox in the country at the moment is clade 2, which is the less severe type, and is typically not deadly, Dr. Panes still emphasized the need to get checked in order to not spread the virus.
She highlighted the importance of wearing face masks in public, proper sanitation, avoiding immunocompromised individuals, regular consultations, intentional inspection of partner’s body parts for rashes or lesions, and abstinence, as condoms could not help in preventing the transmission of the virus. By Blessah Joy Manuel
