CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) - Local Health Insurance Office in Catarman has called on all health care institutions to apply for Konsulta accreditation for them to maximize the health benefit package.

Mary Jane P. Tan, PhilHealth insurance officer, said this is in pursuance to PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0022 to implement a comprehensive outpatient benefit as mandated by the Universal Health Care Law.

The circular aims to access to primary health care by adopting a responsive financing mechanism for the delivery of quality primary health care services and commodities for both government and private health care institution, she said.  

Likewise, it aims to define the PhilHealth Konsulta benefit package and to provide specific guidelines on registration to a primary care provider, benefit availment, applicable payment mechanism, reporting rules and performance assessment.  

Accordingly, PhilHealth Konsulta endeavors to provide members access to a primary care provider that will deliver essential services at every life stage that aims to promote members' health, identify risk, and ensure early diagnosis, treatment and care.

It is paid per capita, covering a defined set of primary health services based on their life-stage, health risks, and needs for which members are entitled to.

The insurance officer explained that the Konsulta package covers medical checkup, health screening and assessment, diagnostic services, medicines, and laboratory test such as complete blood count, urinalysis, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, pap smear, among others.

All mentioned healthcare services are free provided that the health care institution is PhilHealth-accredited.

The program aims to encourage members to visit their doctor regularly even without illness, she said. (MMP/TBC/PIA Northern Samar)