PhilHealth reminds Pinoys of kidney disease benefit packages

MANILA, June 19 ------ In celebration of National Kidney Month, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) urged Filipinos to keep their kidneys safe and healthy. As initiated by Presidential Proclamation 184 in 1993, this celebration aims to raise awareness about kidney diseases and their prevention.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) leads the month-long observance that highlights the importance of kidney health, early detection, and a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD). It also honors the kidney donors and their families and encourages more people to consider organ donation.

To help Filipinos suffering from chronic kidney disease, PhilHealth expanded its hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 (at PHP6,350 per session) every year. The Z Benefit Package for peritoneal dialysis for adult patients amounts to PHP510,140 while the package for pediatric patients totals PHP1,269,000.

The Z Benefit coverage for kidney transplantation with a living organ donor is now PHP1,045,000 while the kidney transplantation with a deceased organ donor is now PHP2,146,000. PhilHealth also pays for exit site infection and peritonitis prevention care for adult patients with a coverage of PHP29,200 or PHP7,300 per episode (maximum of four episodes per year). For pediatric patients, the coverage is PHP16,800 or PHP1,400 per month (maximum of four episodes per year).

With 120 in every 1,000,000 million Filipinos having CKD every year, the state insurer reminded everyone to manage health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which could cause kidney damage. It said that eating fruits and vegetables, avoiding salty and sugary food, regular exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, sleeping for seven to eight hours, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol also keep the kidneys healthy.

Last month, PhilHealth paid PHP592 million worth of claims to the NKTI from Jan. 1 to May 21, covering PHP161 million for hemodialysis claims alone. In celebration of National Kidney Month, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Friday urged Filipinos to keep their kidneys safe and healthy. As initiated by Presidential Proclamation 184 in 1993, this celebration aims to raise awareness about kidney diseases and their prevention.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) leads the month-long observance that highlights the importance of kidney health, early detection, and a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD). It also honors the kidney donors and their families and encourages more people to consider organ donation.

To help Filipinos suffering from chronic kidney disease, PhilHealth expanded its hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 (at PHP6,350 per session) every year. The Z Benefit Package for peritoneal dialysis for adult patients amounts to PHP510,140 while the package for pediatric patients totals PHP1,269,000.

The Z Benefit coverage for kidney transplantation with a living organ donor is now PHP1,045,000 while the kidney transplantation with a deceased organ donor is now PHP2,146,000. PhilHealth also pays for exit site infection and peritonitis prevention care for adult patients with a coverage of PHP29,200 or PHP7,300 per episode (maximum of four episodes per year). For pediatric patients, the coverage is PHP16,800 or PHP1,400 per month (maximum of four episodes per year).

With 120 in every 1,000,000 million Filipinos having CKD every year, the state insurer reminded everyone to manage health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which could cause kidney damage. It said that eating fruits and vegetables, avoiding salty and sugary food, regular exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, sleeping for seven to eight hours, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol also keep the kidneys healthy. Last month, PhilHealth paid PHP592 million worth of claims to the NKTI from Jan. 1 to May 21, covering PHP161 million for hemodialysis claims alone.

Source: philstar.com