PHILHEALTH NOW COVERS PREMATURE BIRTH IN CV

As the world observed the Prematurity Day last Nov. 17, Philhealth announced the availability of the benefit package for premature newborns in Central Visayas.

Pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery and premature newborns can now avail themselves of the Z Benefit Package of Philhealth at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

GCGMH, classified by the Department of Health as a level 3 government hospital, is the first and so far the only hospital in the country which entered into contract with Philhealth to provide Z benefits for premature or low birth weight newborns.

Women who are at risk of giving birth at 24 weeks to less than 37 weeks of gestation may avail themselves of the benefit package for the prevention of preterm delivery. The insurance coverage of Philhealth ranges from P600 to P4,000.

Premature newborns of eligible members who are visually small (24 weeks to less than 32 weeks by fetal ageing or 500 grams to less than 2,500 grams fetal weight) are entitled to avail themselves of essential interventions with health insurance coverage ranging from P35,000 to P135,000. On the other hand, preterm and small newborns who are 32 weeks to less than 37 weeks by fetal ageing are entitled to P24,000 to P71,000 worth of health insurance coverage from Philhealth.

The state-run health insurer introduced the Z Benefit Package in 2012 to realize better health outcomes and financial risk protection for members faced with medically and financially catastrophic conditions.

There are now four contracted hospitals in Central Visayas providing Z benefit packages: Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for kidney transplantation, early stage breast cancer, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), ventricular septal defect (VSD), Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), cervical cancer and selected orthopaedic implants; the Perpetual Succour Hospital for acute lymphocytic leukemia in children, early stage breast cancer, CABG, VSD, TOF, colon and rectum cancer; Cebu Provincial Hospital – Carcar City for end-stage renal disease requiring peritoneal dialysis; and the GCGMH.