NextGen Day

Malacanang is pressuring the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to include free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing in its Covid-19 Home Isolation Benefit Packages (CHIBP).

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles noted that PhilHealth currently offers free testing for patients who are sick and confined in public or private facilities.

“We’re also urging PhilHealth to enhance the number of home treatment packages available. Those who treat themselves at home may be covered by PhilHealth as well. “RT-PCR would be included in the PhilHealth package,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

The gold standard for finding the virus that causes Covid-19 is RT-PCR testing.

Patients who meet both clinical and social requirements in surge regions declared by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases are currently eligible for the CHIBP (IATF-EID).

Home consultations for a minimum of 10 days are included in the package, as is the provision of a home isolation kit that includes: 1L 70% alcohol, five pieces face mask, one thermometer, one pulse oximeter, drugs, and medicines (18 pieces paracetamol, 12 pieces Lagundi tablets or equivalent, six sachets oral rehydration salts, ten pieces Ascorbic Acid, ten pieces Vitamin D and zinc), and a consent form.

If a patient’s condition worsens during home isolation, CHIBP providers may refer them to higher-level facilities. The facility can still file a claim if the patient dies while in home isolation.

Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a senatorial candidate and the governor of Sorsogon, has previously called on the Department of Health (DOH) to make RT-PCR testing more reasonable and accessible, if not free, to encourage the people to get tested and help stop the spread of Covid-19.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 118 on November 4, directing the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry to establish and execute a price range for RT-PCR testing.

RT-PCR tests currently have a price cap ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP3,000.

Previously, all costs included, the price cap for RT-PCR testing was PHP3,800 for public laboratories/hospitals and PHP4,500 to PHP5,000 for commercial laboratories.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has established a price cap of PHP960 for quick antigen testing.

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