The Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) introduced its mental health
benefits package for outpatient services during
the launching ceremony of
the Philippine Council for
Mental Health Strategic
Framework for 2024-2028
on October 12, 2023.
PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel
R. Ledesma, Jr. witnessed
Vice President for NCR
Dr. Bernadette Lico entered into a contract with
the National Center for
Mental Health led by Dr.
Noel Reyes for the implementation of the outpatient
mental health benefits
package.
Republic Act No.
11036, also known as the
Mental Health Act, governs
the compulsory treatment
of people with mental disorders. As a purchaser for
health services, PhilHealth
is mandated to provide and
improve health services
coverage to all Filipinos
regardless of socioeconomic status.
With the government’s new mandate
and through PhilHealth’s
official partnership with
NCMH, the state agency expanded its mental
health services to make it
more comprehensive and
responsive to the needs
of the people with mental
disorders. “PhilHealth will
implement a progressive
mental health package,
providing members, as
well as their dependents,
with responsive benefits that ensure financial
risk protection as they go
through their healing from
anxiety and depression.”
PhilHealth’s Chief Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr.
declared.
The state health
insurer published its PhilHealth Circular No. 2023-
0018 on October 12,
2023 stipulating its mental
health benefits for outpatient services which includes consultations,
diagnostic follow-up, psychoeducation and psychosocial support
that will soon be available in mental
health outpatient facilities that will
be accredited for the purpose.
This support for mental
health consists of two packages:
general mental health services
packages amounting to P9,000 and
the specialty mental health services
packages amounting to P16,000 per
person annually. Individuals must
be 10 years and older to be eligible
to the aforementioned benefits to
receive psychiatric services. Meanwhile, no age restriction is imposed
for those needing neurological services.
As a way forward, the government aims to prevent premature
mortality and improve the quality of
life of Filipinos struggling with mental disorders. The state agency is
also working towards an enhanced
delivery of accessible mental health
services and to help stop stigmatization and discrimination.
To ensure that this is progressively realized, PhilHealth has
issued a call for mental health facilities nationwide to be accredited to
ensure that needed mental health
services are accessible to the people. “Together, we can promote
mental health among our Kababayans not only here in urban but also
in rural areas.” Ledesma said. END
