Duterte OKs mandatory PhilHealth coverage bill for all PWDs

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the mandatory Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage for all persons with disability (PWDs).

Duterte signed Republic Act 11228 on February 22 but was only released to the media on Monday.

Under the new law, “all persons with disability shall be automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program” of PhilHealth.

The law states that premium contributions of all PWDs should be paid by the national government provided that the “premium contributions of those employed in the formal economy shall be shared equally by the employer and the national government.”

The premiums that will be shouldered by the government from its sin tax collection.

“The PhilHealth shall develop exclusive packages for PWDs that will address their specific health and development needs,” the law mandated.

The Department of Health,  according to the law, should maintain an updated database on PWDs and their health and development needs.

The LGUs, PhilHealth, National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), and other relevant government agencies were directed to submit their data on PWDs to the DOH.

The law likewise mandates the Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), NCDA, and local government units, to conduct periodic monitoring and evaluation of the law’s implementation. / gsg