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NewsTranscript
00:00The PhilHealth's plan of recommendation to President Bongbong Marcos to lower premium contributions has been approved.
00:06We will talk to Acting Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group of PhilHealth, Mr. Ray Baleña.
00:13Good morning and welcome to Balitang Hali. This is Connie Sison.
00:17Good morning, Ma'am Connie and of course, to all the listeners of Balitang Hali.
00:21Sir, what has been your consideration in the recommendation to lower the premium contribution of PhilHealth members?
00:28And if that will continue, how much will it be lowered?
00:34Ma'am Connie, of course, our primary consideration here is the well-being of our members.
00:40That's why in the light of this development,
00:44this was proposed by our President and CEO, Sir Mandy Ledesma, Jr.
00:49So now, we are studying this plan.
00:53If we have a plan, we will convene our Executive Committee
01:02so that we can recommend to our PhilHealth Board and eventually to President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.
01:08Is there a reason behind your recommendation to lower the premium contribution?
01:14This is the Senate's decision regarding the return of P90 billion, Sir?
01:19Well, our primary concern, Ma'am Connie, is the well-being of our members.
01:29It is also provided in the law that if we have an excess fund,
01:35it can be used to improve benefits and also to reduce our contribution.
01:44So this is the provision of the law that we are looking at so that we can be kind to our members.
01:53So it has nothing to do with your position?
01:57Well, let's just say that it's part of it.
02:00This is what we are always looking at. Ma'am Connie, that's our position.
02:07All right. If we lower the premium contribution,
02:10it might have an effect on the fund and the benefits that PhilHealth will provide.
02:17Well definitely, we will look at the impact of that.
02:21We will look at the appropriate level of reduction.
02:26For now, we don't have any information about this.
02:31But what we can assure our members is that this should not affect our benefits.
02:38In fact, Ma'am Connie, our benefit enhancement has already been programmed.
02:42We started it last year and it will continue as directed by our PhilHealth Board.
02:48Okay. Some healthcare groups said that PhilHealth does not provide enough help.
02:54But you have an excess fund.
02:57What is your position on this so that it can be improved?
03:01You said that you are already in the pipeline of programs.
03:05But what can you say about the lack of receiving benefits from PhilHealth members?
03:14Yes, Ma'am Connie. We acknowledge their concerns about this.
03:19This is what we are urgently facing.
03:23Last year, we enhanced our dialysis package.
03:28Sometimes, we increased it to Php4,000 per session.
03:33There are certain conditions that are really high burden for our patients.
03:37We increased it to more than double.
03:40Last year, I followed your report.
03:44We increased it to 30% of all the case rates.
03:48After that, we were instructed by Sir Manly Ledesma to study for the next round of increase.
03:56For this year, we were able to improve our benefits.
04:02In due time, Ma'am Connie, our members will really feel their benefits from PhilHealth.
04:09Sir, some groups are saying that if they can lower the amount they are paying, why only now?
04:18If they can increase the benefits, why only now?
04:23Is there anything specific that happened?
04:28Is there anything specific that can be done and was not done before?
04:32We are just lagging behind in our benefit enhancement program.
04:37But like what we said earlier, Ma'am Connie, we started it once it normalized.
04:43We came from the pandemic.
04:45We are already lagging behind in improving the left and right of our packages.
04:50This is a possible reduction in our premium contributions.
04:54Like what I said earlier, this is in line with the law.
04:58And as a recognition of the situation of our fellow countrymen who are still affected by the pandemic,
05:06who are suffering and living a hard life,
05:09this is an option that we are implementing now.
05:13All right. Thank you very much for your time here in Balitang Hali, Sir.
05:17Ma'am Connie, thank you very much and long live to you.
05:21That was Acting Vice President Ray Balenya of PhilHealth.
05:47Thank you.