RITM clarifies: Non-Philhealth members still accommodated for COVID-19 tests
MANILA, Philippines —The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Sunday denied reports that specimens from individuals who are not registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were not accepted by laboratories.
RITM director Dr. Celia Carlos assured the public that non-PhilHealth members will still be accommodated for coronavirus testing but must be subjected to government directives.
“If you are recommended for COVID-19 testing—or have already been swabbed—and you are yet to become a PhilHealth member, don’t worry, you will still be accommodated. To expand COVID-19 testing to more individuals from wider groups and locations, PhilHealth has made it more accessible for non-members to register at the point of care. RITM, in turn, is fully ready and equipped to assist you in your PhilHealth enrolment,” Carlos said in a statement.
The Muntinlupa-based research facility said hospitals and Disease Reporting Units (DRUs) are accountable for “collecting and forwarding specimens.”
RITM said non-members of PhilHealth are advised to fill-out the PhilHealth Registration Membership Form (PRMF) provided by the DRUs and submit a government-issued ID.
RITM said it will then “assist patients in their PhilHealth enrolment.”
“Once enrolled, patients would be able to avail not just the benefit claims for testing, but hospitalization and other benefits offered by PhilHealth as well,” RITM added.
