PHILHEALTH ASSESSES IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIGENT PROGRAM

In a bid to continuously improve its services and ensure access of its members to social health insurance benefits, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently conducted a workshop to assess the implementation of its Indigent Program.

The evaluation workshop, which was held in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), brought together representatives from the regional and central offices of both agencies to revisit policies and be updated on the latest developments that are most beneficial to covered beneficiaries under the Indigent Program.

The annual activity is part of the collaboration agreement between PhilHealth and DSWD, aimed at further heightening the level of awareness of all Pantawid beneficiaries on their PhilHealth benefits through the Family Development Seminars conducted by the DSWD’s municipal/city links.

Presenters during the workshop were DSWD National Program Manager for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Director Leonardo Reynoso, OIC-Director Rhodora Alday of the National Household Targeting Office and PhilHealth Head for the Indigent Segment Lourdes Irene Miñoza. 

This year, the workshop focused on intensifying the process of enrolment of poor households in the DSWD’s National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or the Listahanan 2, and addressing the policy gaps on program implementation for indigent members.

The Listahanan 2 is the second round of the household assessment of the DSWD wherein 5.1 million of the 15.1 households that were assessed in 2015 were identified as poor. It is an information management system that identifies the poorest households in the country including their locations using a Proxy Means Test Module. The list can be provided to other government agencies like PhilHealth as basis in identifying the poor families who are automatic members under the Indigent program. 

PhilHealth Senior Manager for Non-Formal Sector Narisa Sugay expressed optimism that PhilHealth indigent and DSWD shall remain to have a strong collaboration to ensure that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino members will experience responsive benefits and better service delivery particularly on their health insurance coverage. 

Among the recommendations that were identified during the workshop are the syncing of databases used by both agencies and to conduct capacity building among social workers for the enrolment of non- pantawid and non-listahanan members in PhilHealth’s Point of Care Program. Both agencies will work on the strategies and policies to operationalize the recommendations made during the two-day workshop.  #  Source  - Michelle S. Nisperos/PHILHEALTH