ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Good news for all those undergoing hemodialysis!

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) extended its outpatient hemodialysis coverage for the year 2021 from 90 to 144 sessions

In a virtual media interaction, PhilHealth Northern Mindanao Acting Regional Vice President Delio Aseron II  said the extension was brought about by the clamor of dialysis patients who are in financial hardship during the pandemic.

"P2,600 kada session po yan times 144 sessions, so nasa P374,400 ang tinutulong natin sa kanila," he said.

[It's P2,600 per session, times 144 sessions, so we are helping them with P374,400.]

The 144 dialysis sessions can be availed by PhilHealth members and their dependents with chronic kidney disease stage 5 who are enrolled in the PhilHealth Dialysis Database.

Aseron clarified that unused sessions will not be carried over to next year.

"Kung hindi po ito mauubos, hindi mo siya macarry over kasi come 2022, it will be a different story. Depende pa rin ito sa actuarial study, depende sa magiging sitwasyon next year. Nevertheless, ang Philhealth ay di humihinto na kung ano po ang kailangan ng ating kababayan, ito po ay inaaksyunan agad ng management," he said.

[You cannot carry over unused sessions because come 2022, it will be a different story. It will depend on the actuarial study, it will depend on the situation next year. Nevertheless, Philhealth does not stop to provide what is needed by the people, the management always takes immediate action.]

Aseron said those who have already been dialyzed beyond the 90 sessions before the effectivity of the extension and have paid their sessions in full may directly file their claims with the nearest PhilHealth Office to get a refund. (APB/PIA-ICIC)