DOH Expands Philhealth Benefits: Dental, Mental Health, More
The Department of Health (DOH) has announced an expansion of benefits under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), including dental care, mental health services, and more, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive. The DOH also plans to sustain and expand the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy to include major provincial and city government hospitals.
Philhealth aims to provide a wide range of services, including dental benefits, expanded mental health care, treatment for animal bites, optometric services, assistive devices, medical transportation, early detection and screening for lupus, autism treatment, and coverage for blood products and rehabilitation services. Additionally, the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para Malayo sa Sakit will offer annual physical examinations, laboratory screenings, and health risk assessments for senior citizens.
To finance these expansions, the DOH will adopt a multi-financing approach. An additional P60 billion has been allocated to Philhealth in the proposed 2026 national budget. The DOH will submit a detailed roadmap to the Senate by December 31, outlining strategies for financing, phased implementation of benefits, benchmarks, and monitoring mechanisms. A new line item in the General Appropriations Act is also proposed for 'Zero Balance Billing support for Level 2 and Level 3 LGU hospitals'.
The DOH's plans aim to improve access to healthcare services and financial protection for Filipinos. With the additional funding and expanded health insurance benefits, more people can expect better health outcomes and reduced financial burden.
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