PhilHealth Benefit Expansion: Lee Advocates Improvements in UHC Law
PhilHealth Benefit Expansion: Lee Advocates Improvements in UHC Law Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee, a staunch health advocate, is doubling down on his efforts to expand PhilHealth benefits through strategic amendments to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act. Lee’s House Bill No. 10995 proposes bold reforms to ensure Filipinos get better healthcare coverage without bearing the brunt of rising contributions. Lee cited the challenges facing UHC implementation, including inadequate reviews of benefit packages and fund management inefficiencies. “Napakaraming pera ng PhilHealth, dapat ilaan ito di lang sa pagpapalawak ng mga benepisyo kundi pati na rin sa pagpapababa ng kontribusyon,” Lee asserted, highlighting his push for reduced premiums and better coverage. The Bicolano lawmaker has also championed life-saving measures like the free provision of diagnostic scans, prescription glasses, and expanded cancer and heart procedure coverage. Earlier this year, Lee celebrated the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits, including a dramatic rise in breast cancer treatment coverage from P100,000 to P1.4 million and expanded hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 annually with a coverage of P6,350 per session from P2,000. “Our people deserve more than incremental improvements. They deserve bold actions that will lift the burden of medical costs off their shoulders,” Lee said, renewing his commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for all Filipinos. #PhilHealthReforms #GamotMoSagotKo #WiseMoves Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 13 Nov 2024 PhilHealth Benefit Expansion: Lee Advocates Improvements in UHC Law 12 Nov 2024 Lee Files Measure To Simplify Processes In Availing Gov't Services, Hasten Emergency Response 11 Nov 2024 Lee Pushes for UHC Act Amendments to Ease Filipinos’ Healthcare Burdens Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Files Measure To Simplify Processes In Availing Gov’t Services, Hasten Emergency Response
Lee Files Measure To Simplify Processes In Availing Gov’t Services, Hasten Emergency Response “Tulungan ang taumbayan, hindi pahirapan!” This was the statement of Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee as he filed House Resolution No. 2051 in calling government agencies to streamline, simplify, and liberalize requirements and processes in government services which continue to burden Filipinos. This comes amid the onslaught of natural calamities in the country which requires speedy delivery of services to afflicted Filipinos. “Hindi makatarungan na kung nasalanta ka na nga at nasira ang lahat ng iyong kabuhayan at ari-arian, kilo-kilometro pa ang requirements o kaya naman ay parang kailangan pang magmakaawa o lumuhod sa mga nasa katungkulan para lang makahingi ng tulong,” he said. The Bicolano lawmaker’s measure underscores the existence of Republic Act (RA) No. 9485 or the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007” and RA 11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” which should be effectively implemented. “Even with the enactment of these laws and their related regulations, persistent issues and challenges such as excessive paperwork, long hours of application process, burdensome submission of unnecessary requirements, and insufficient technological integration continue to obstruct efficient delivery of services of various government programs and services,” Lee remarked. The solon from Bicol further highlighted that tedious processes could cultivate corruption in agencies, saying “there’s an urgent need for decisive and radical action to effectively simplify and liberalize government processes, and weed out red tape and corruption in agencies.” As a staunch health advocate, Lee stressed that the same tedious processes continue to hound sick Filipinos who lack access to healthcare services. “Kapag nagkakasakit ang marami nating kababayan, dahil sa mahal ng gastusin at pahirapan bago makatanggap ng medical assistance, pinipili na lang nilang maratay sa bahay kaya mas lumalala ang karamdaman o pinipili na lang na hintayin ang oras nila. Hindi ito deserve ng Pilipino. Dapat ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng Pilipino, sagot ng gobyerno! Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko!” Lee said. “Ang gobyerno, hindi dapat pabigat sa taumbayan. Ang serbisyo, dapat ora-mismo, hindi nakakaperwisyo pa sa Pilipino. Ang pera ng gobyerno ay pera ng taumbayan kaya walang rason na di maibigay sa Pilipino ang nararapat na serbisyo,” he added. It can be recalled that during the last House Plenary Debates on the DOH 2025 Budget on September 25, Lee secured commitments from the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to lower the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos and expand health benefits. Among the commitments Lee secured include free Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and other diagnostic tests as part of outpatient services and at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and procedures for heart diseases not later than December 31, 2024, free optometric services and free eye care, and another 50% increase in PhilHealth benefits this November. Lee also successfully fought for the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which was implemented last February 14. These include increasing the PhilHealth benefit package for hemodialysis from P2,600 to P6,350 per session and from 90 sessions per year to 156 sessions annually, as well as the increase in breast cancer treatment coverage from P100,000 to P1.4M. Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 12 Nov 2024 Lee Files Measure To Simplify Processes In Availing Gov't Services, Hasten Emergency Response 10 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Secures Major Gains to achieve Free Health Services for Filipinos 09 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Calls for Expanded PhilHealth Benefits Amid Supreme Court TRO Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Lee Pushes for UHC Act Amendments to Ease Filipinos’ Healthcare Burdens
Lee Pushes for UHC Act Amendments to Ease Filipinos’ Healthcare Burdens “Gamot at pagpapagamot ng Pilipino, dapat sagot ng gobyerno!” This was the rallying cry of Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee as he called for urgent amendments to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act, aiming to deliver more comprehensive PhilHealth benefits and reduce the financial burden of member contributions. House Bill No. 10995, filed by Lee, seeks to address the gaps in the UHC Act, including the lack of periodic reviews of benefit packages, inefficiencies in fund management, and the impact of public health emergencies. “The UHC law promised a lot, but Filipinos still face the same fears of illness driving them to debt or poverty. Strengthening this law is crucial to reduce their health burdens,” Lee emphasized. A key feature of the proposed measure is a directive for the Health Technology Assessment Council to periodically review PhilHealth benefit packages. Additionally, the bill proposes reducing the mandatory premium contributions for 2024 and 2025, deviating from the current law’s 5% rate to 4% and 4.25%, respectively. Lee also highlighted the importance of empowering the President to suspend premium hikes during national or public health emergencies. “This measure ensures that the Filipino people won’t bear additional burdens during crises,” he said, underscoring his commitment to pushing for the bill’s swift approval. #UHCAmendments #WiseLeadership #HealthcareForAll Healthcare Policy Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts 12 Nov 2024 Lee Files Measure To Simplify Processes In Availing Gov't Services, Hasten Emergency Response 10 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Secures Major Gains to achieve Free Health Services for Filipinos 09 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Calls for Expanded PhilHealth Benefits Amid Supreme Court TRO Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Calls for Expanded PhilHealth Benefits Amid Supreme Court TRO
Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Calls for Expanded PhilHealth Benefits Amid Supreme Court TRO Following a Supreme Court decision to halt PhilHealth’s fund transfers, Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee is pushing for immediate improvements in PhilHealth’s services. Lee has argued that the agency’s funds should remain focused on expanding health benefits for Filipinos rather than diverted to non-health projects. “Naninindigan po tayo na ang pondo para sa kalusugan ay hindi dapat gamitin sa mga programang hindi kasinghalaga ng kalusugan ng mga Pilipino,” he stated. The Department of Finance’s recent order resulted in P60 billion being moved from PhilHealth to the Treasury earlier this year, triggering widespread concern. Lee argues that the excess funds from PhilHealth could be better used to enhance the agency’s services, reduce membership contributions for lower-income earners, or provide immediate healthcare benefits. His advocacy is based on a core principle: health funds should serve health needs first. Lee suggested that if the government truly requires funds, they should seek them from other GOCCs that have surplus funds and are not tasked with delivering essential social services. “Imbes na sa PhilHealth bumawas ng pondo, kunin na lang sa iba pang GOCCs na may excess funds,” he said, noting that healthcare must be the priority. His commitment includes ensuring that PhilHealth benefits are strengthened and expanded as soon as possible. These funds, he argued, could jumpstart several health reforms Lee secured in recent legislative debates. By December 2024, he envisions expanded access to diagnostics, cancer treatments, and other critical services. His goal is clear: use PhilHealth’s resources to support Filipinos facing serious health challenges rather than meet broader fiscal needs. #HealthFirst #PhilHealthFunds #WiseLeadership #HealthAdvocate #CongressionalWatch Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 09 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Calls for Expanded PhilHealth Benefits Amid Supreme Court TRO 08 Nov 2024 Supreme Court Welcomes SC Decision to Stop PhilHealth Fund Transfer 07 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Secures Free Prescription Glasses in PhilHealth Package, Ensuring Eye Care for All Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News