PhilHealth releases P257.6 million to boost primary care service delivery
THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) announced that it released more than P257 million representing the first tranche of capitation payments to Primary Care Provider Networks (PCPNs) to boost the nationwide implementation of its expanded primary care benefit package or the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) Package.
According to PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr., the move is expected to help accredited Konsulta facilities under the partner networks to ensure readiness to serve patients availing of Konsulta services from consultations to health screening and assessment, to the dispensing of essential drugs and medicines and laboratory procedures as recommended by qualified physicians.
“This initial wave of releases will definitely hasten enlistment of members under the networks’ catchment areas and facilitate patients being seen by the providers that they have chosen,” Mr. Ledesma explained.
To date, four out of the first seven PCPNs under a sandbox setting have received their capitation funds from the state health insurer, namely Quezon Province (P72.9 million); South Cotabato (P53.9 million); Bataan (P114.7 million); and Baguio City (P15.9 million).
“These funds were frontloaded, meaning we have advanced the funding even before they render the services. This way, these networks can mobilize these to augment health resources and even ground personnel so they can serve patients adequately especially those underserved communities and the vulnerable segments,” Mr. Ledesma added.
The PCPN sandbox sites were launched by PhilHealth in June last year through a simple signing ceremony. The partnership aims to strengthen primary care services, digitize patient records and streamline claims processes within select areas.
The state agency has allotted P30 billion this year to intensify the implementation of Konsulta in more participating networks to cover more regions especially in geographically isolated and depressed areas.