MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Region 6 (PhilHealth-6) and The Medical City Iloilo (TMCI) inked a partnership for the Z-Benefit Package for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) on Friday.
The said launching event was graced by PhilHealth representatives from the Central Office headed by its OIC-SVP HFPS Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, regional vice president Lourdes Diocson, and Medical Officer and HCDMD chief Dr. Bernadette Reynes.
TMCI executive committee members and Dr. Jared Billena were also present together with representatives from the Department of Health Region 6 (DOH-6) headed by Regional Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar and Dr. Ma. Julia Villanueva. Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III and Gov. Arthur Defensor are also joining the said event.
“The alarming rise of death rate attributed to cardiovascular disease has prompted PhilHealth to partner with The Medical City Iloilo to provide Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery,” said PhilHealth-VI Regional Vice President Lourdes F. Diocson, regional vice president.
Under PhilHealth’s Z-Benefit for CABG, the patient is entitled to a package rate of P550,000 for the entire course of treatment.
The P550,000 benefit package is the second highest benefit package being paid for by PhilHealth which covers drugs and medicines, operating room and professional fees, including mandatory and other services under PhilHealth’s “Z-Benefit” – or those illnesses perceived to be financially and medically catastrophic.
”PhilHealth is confident that with the right management, competent multi-disciplinary team and cutting edge medical technology, The Medical City Iloilo is the key to the improvement of the heart conditions of our patients,” Diocson added.
With TMCI as a Z-Benefit Provider of CABG, patient-members are mandatorily provided with services such as pre-operative laboratory tests, medications, blood support, open heart surgery and continuing post-operative care, among others.
“This is a welcome development for us. With the increasing population affected by heart disease who die each year because of inaccessible and unaffordable treatment, it’s really time for us to help address this challenge,” said TMCI CEO Dr. Eugene Ramos.
He added that TMCI’s provision of Z-Benefit Package for CABG, the first in Western Visayas, is still part of their commitment of making health services accessible and available for the Ilonggos centered on their “patient partnership” philosophy./PN
