AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Friday met with the PhilHealth leadership led by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atty. Eli Dino Santos to personally thank the Board of Directors and Executive Committee on their approval of the 30% increase on PhilHealth benefits that he persistently pushed for.
“Bumisita tayo sa PhilHealth para personal na pasalamatan ang kanilang pamunuan dahil inaprubahan na nila yung ipinaglaban natin na 30% increase sa sinasagot nilang mga benepisyo,” Lee said.
During the meeting, Lee and Ledesma committed for a closer coordination in addressing the problems in the sector and in promoting a more accessible, affordable and compassionate health care for all Filipinos.
In a Facebook post, PhilHealth acknowledged the solon’s efforts in pushing for the said adjustment, saying “Cong. Lee staunchly called for and supported the increase in all case rates packages of PhilHealth which was recently approved by the PhilHealth Board.”
“Please continue your invaluable support to PhilHealth,” Ledesma told Lee.
The Bicolano lawmaker also expressed his gratitude to the leadership and to all the employees of the state health insurer for their efforts to improve the benefits and services it offers to its members.
According to the solon, “We look forward to working with PhilHealth in finding ways to improve the country’s healthcare system and make it more responsive to the needs of Filipinos.”
“Our goal is to ease the fears of Filipino families who are concerned about getting sick, as they fear sinking further into poverty due to their inability to pay for hospital expenses,” said Lee.
“Sa pag-iikot ko, unang-una talaga sa mga concerns ng ating mga kababayan ang magkasakit ang pamilya at lalo silang malubog sa utang dahil sa napakamahal na bayarin sa ospital. Kaya kahit paano, mas makakahinga nang maluwag ang milyon-milyong Pilipino sa good news na ito ng PhilHealth,” he added.
It can be recalled that through Lee’s questioning during the deliberation of the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health on September 2023, it was revealed that PhilHealth had P466 billion worth of investible funds and P68.4 billion net income. He urged the agency to use these enormous funds to expand healthcare services.
Lee also wrote a letter addressed to Ledesma and filed House Resolution No. 1407 on October 2023 calling for the 30% increase on its coverage since its case rate is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries.
“Winner Tayo Lahat sa 30% increase na ito dahil mababawasan ang out-of-pocket expenses ng mga miyembro sa pagpapaospital. Pero hindi dito natatapos ang mga pagsisikap natin. Simula pa lang ito, because the PhilHealth committed to review other services we are pushing, including higher coverage of professional fees of doctor and the effective implementation of the No Balance Billing,” Lee stated.
According to PhilHealth, the agency has packages for over 8,000 medical conditions and surgical procedures that can be availed of from 12,140 accredited health facilities nationwide. –WTL
