MANILA – In a significant move to enhance healthcare access, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has raised the package rate for hemodialysis from PHP 4,000 to PHP 6,350 per session. This adjustment, announced by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, applies to both public and private dialysis facilities.
The decision follows a comprehensive review by the PhilHealth Board en banc, which acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by dialysis providers under the previous rate. In addition to the increased package rate, private dialysis units will now have the option to charge patients out of pocket for services that exceed the standard minimum care requirements.
Nephrologists working in these private facilities can also levy an additional professional fee of up to PHP 450 for their services. The DOH emphasized that further details will be outlined in an upcoming PhilHealth Circular, which will guide the operationalization of this new rate, ensuring that providers can begin claiming the increased fees promptly.
This change comes on the heels of a meeting convened by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, where the Benefits Committee (Bencom) gathered feedback from hospitals, dialysis centers, and the Philippine Society of Nephrology. The committee’s findings highlighted significant operational difficulties experienced by providers under the previous PHP 4,000 rate, prompting the need for a reassessment.
