COVID-19 cases in PH now close to 20,000

June 4 ------ The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines surpassed the 19,000 mark on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 751 new cases. Out of the 751 new cases, 221 were classified as “fresh cases” or those test results released within the last three days and were validated, while 530 were classified as “late cases” or the test results released to patients after more than four days but only validated recently. The new cases brought the nationwide tally to 19,748.

The DOH also reported 90 more patients who recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,153. The death toll, meanwhile, increased to 974 after eight more patients died due to the dreaded disease.

New PhilHealth testing rate

Meanwhile, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has set a new benefit package for COVID-19 testing. “The adjustment resulted from its continuing consultation with stakeholders and infectious disease experts, increased availability and affordability of testing kits in the market, and increased number of qualified facilities to do SARS-CoV-2 testing,” the state-health insurer said in a statement.

The new rate of the benefit package will be P3,409, provided that “all services for testing are procured and provided by the testing laboratory,” the PhilHealth said. The other package is worth P2,077 if “test kits are donated to the testing laboratory.” The lowest package is worth P901 if test kits are “donated to the testing laboratory [and the] cost of running the laboratory and RT-PCR machine for testing is included in the facility budget.”

“The package is for costs attributable to services related to testing such as clinical assessment, specimen collection, specimen transport and materials such as PPEs and test kits,” the PhilHealth noted. PhilHealth said that it will soon issue the effectivity date of the new benefit packages as well as a circular on “pertinent guidelines.” The new rates came after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon recently flagged the PhilHealth rates, saying it may be “overpriced”. The previous rates were P8,150, P5,450, and P2,710.

Source: mb.com.ph