THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) XI continues to seek partner institutions in Davao Region to roll out its outpatient mental health benefits package.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on Jan. 8, Dr. Maria Alexis Campaner, PhilHealth XI Healthcare Delivery Management Division (HCDMD) officer-in-charge, said the package is already part of the agency’s coverage even if it’s new to the region.
“Napakabago pa ng package for Davao Region, that’s why there are still no accredited institutions for mental health,” Campaner said.
The outpatient mental health benefits package has two types—the General Mental Health Service package covering about P9,000 per fiscal year, and the Specialty Mental Health package, which covers up to P16,000 per fiscal year.
Campaner said they already coordinated with health facilities, especially the Southern Philippines Medical Center Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, to encourage qualified beneficiaries to apply.
“We also had our reach-out team go into other facilities in Davao Region and encourage our partner hospitals,” she added.
Implemented on Oct. 27, PhilHealth’s package covers mental health issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Department of Health’s 2020 data, an estimated 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from at least one type of mental, neurological, or substance abuse disorder.
Also, in PIA’s online briefer last Dec. 22, Dr. Gianelli Kristine Remocaldo, PhilHealth XI HCDMD medical evaluator, hoped “more of their eligible stakeholders will manifest interest in being accredited for the benefits package”.
The new Outpatient Mental Health Package is in line with Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act, which provides compulsory treatment of certain people suffering from mental disorders, and Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, which covers population-based and individual-based health services and medicines access programs for mental health.
