PhilHealth lowers cost of COVID-19 testing package after criticisms

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced Wednesday that it will roll out a more affordable rate for their coronavirus testing packages after an opposition senator earlier flagged its “overpriced” testing package.

In a statement, PhilHealth said the lowering of rates is the result of its “continuing consultation with stakeholders and infectious disease experts.”

From PhilHealth’s initial benefit package ranging from  P2,710 to P8,150, the new rate will be from as low as P901 to P3,409.

The following is the new PhilHealth rates as approved by its Board of Directors:

-P3,409 – All services for testing are procured and provided by the testing laboratory

-P2,077 – Test kits are donated to the testing laboratory

-P901 – Test kits are donated to the testing laboratory; the cost of running the laboratory and RT-PCR machine for testing is included in the facility budget.

PhilHealth said the package is for costs attributable to services related to testing such as clinical assessment, specimen collection, specimen transport and materials like personal protective equipment, and test kits.

It added that it will soon issue a circular containing the guidelines and date of effectivity of the new rates.

Earlier, Senator Franklin Drilon grilled PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales over the state insurer’s P8,150 testing package during a recent Senate hearing on the government’s coronavirus response.