PART of our commitment to our members is ensuring healthy babies and safe pregnancies.
Isa ito sa aming advocacies na ipinagmamalaki namin dahil mula pa lamang sa pagbubuntis hanggang sa pagkapanganak ay nakakatulong na kami para masigurong malusog at ligtas ang mommies at babies na ipinapanganak sa mga accredited hospitals at non-hospital facilities ng PhilHealth.
To ensure safe pregnancies, we introduced the maternity care package in 2003 emphasizing the need for pre to postnatal visits to properly care for the mothers. More than the coverage for actual deliveries, our prenatal and postnatal care benefits are little but crucial incentives to encourage member-moms to go though pregnancies that are safe and healthy for them and their infants.
In 2006, we launched the next wave of benefits that will ensure the health of our future leaders and shapers right on their Day 1 in response to our Board directive per Resolution 925 s-2006. Our commitment to healthy moms and babies came in full circle has come in full circle with the introduction of the Newborn Care Package or NCP which includes the following services: eye prophylaxis, umbilical cord care, Vitamin K and thermal care for a subsidy of P250; first dose of Hepatitis B immunization for a subsidy of P250; and newborn screening tests for P500, all for a total of P1,000, which is directly reimbursed to the health care provider.
In 2007, we enhanced the package with the inclusion of BCG vaccine and resuscitation should newborns are found to have abnormal breathing a minute after the delivery or those with Apgar scores below 7 where resuscitation is essential to establish normal breathing , heart rate, color, tone and response of an infant with abnormal vital signs.
Napakahalaga na mabigyan ng newborn screening tests ang mga sanggol pagkatapos ng 24 oras ngunit hindi lalagpas ng tatlong araw mula sa pagkakapanganak. Sakaling kailangang dalhin sa intensive care ang sanggol bunga ng prematurity o dahil sa anumang karamdaman, dapat na sila ay ma-screen sa loob ng pitong araw pagkapanganak at ito’y mababayaran pa rin ng PhilHealth. Siyempre, ang pagka-confine ng isang sanggol na may karamdaman ay may bukod na inpatient care coverage.
The NCP may be availed of in both hospitals and non-hospital facilities which are duly accredited by PhilHealth. Non-hospitals would include lying-in clinics, birthing homes, rural health units, midwife-managed clinics, ambulatory surgical clinics or any other analogous health facilities na pawang certified newborn screening facility.
The good news is that all newborns are entitled to this benefit even if their mothers’ delivery is not covered by PhilHealth. For this reason, babies of fifth and subsequent normal deliveries (which are no longer covered by PhilHealth) are qualified to the package.
Paalala lang po: Hindi covered ang sanggol na ipinanganak sa bahay!
Eligibility requirements: Eligible newborns born to mothers who are members or qualified dependents and who satisfy the eligibility requirements for pregnancy-related benefit:
1. Employed/Kasapi and Individually Paying members – payment of at least 3 months within the immediate six months prior to the fist day of the newborn’s confinement.
2. OFW and Sponsored members – availment is within the validity period as stated in their MDR or Family Health Cards.
-----------------
Dr. Aquino’s column appears every Wednesday. Send questions and comments to rbaquino_ssp@philhealth.gov.ph