PhilHealth logs steady rise in hemodialysis claims in E. Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has recorded PHP272.8 million claims from hemodialysis patients in Eastern Visayas in the first semester of 2024, which is significantly higher than the PHP191.04 million during the same period last year. Rosario Suyom, PhilHealth-Eastern Visayas healthcare delivery management division chief, said hemodialysis sessions remain the top procedure paid by the state health insurance firm. Claims count also rose to 78,791 this year from 54,584 in the first half of 2023. Other top claims are caesarian birth delivery; prenatal, delivery, and newborn services; and an expanded newborn care package. The higher claim for hemodialysis indicates increasing cases of chronic kidney failure. 'We must consider that the number of sessions allowed has increased to 156 days this year. It affects the statistical rank of the procedure,' Suyom said during the 'Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas' press briefing here on Tuesday. The increasing number of dialysis center even outside Tacloban City also contributed to high claims, Suyom said. She said they have been sharing this information with the Department of Health as part of the government's effort to raise awareness of the importance of caring for the kidneys to overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney diseases. Recently, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has expanded its package for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 to 156 sessions from 90 sessions annually. Under PhilHealth Circular 2023-009, the agency would be paying PHP2,600 every session or PHP405,600 per year for CKD stage 5 patients. To avail of the package, patients must be recommended by a licensed doctor to have hemodialysis and must be listed in the PhilHealth dialysis database. The number of sessions availed by the patient will be monitored by the facility administering the hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is a treatment to filter waste and water from a person's blood, the function of a healthy kidney . Hemodialysis helps control blood pressure and balance important minerals, such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, in a person's blood. Source: Philippines News agency