PhilHealth increases maternity benefits

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has increased the benefit coverage for normal spontaneous deliveries of pregnant women in accredited lying-in clinics and level 1 hospitals from P6,500 to P8,000 starting last Sept. 1.

The benefit package covers facility fee amounting to P6,500, which includes professional fee of the midwife or doctor. The prenatal care fee of P1,500, which covers prenatal expenses such as laboratory tests, drugs and medicines and consultation fees, is payable to the member.

Normal spontaneous deliveries in levels 2 to 4 hospitals are still covered at a package rate of P6,500, inclusive of prenatal care and professional fee.

PhilHealth has also increased the newborn care package from P1,000 to P1,750.

The services under the package now include immediate drying of the newborn, early skin-to-skin contact, cord clamping, non-separation of mother-baby for early breastfeeding initiation, eye prophylaxis, vitamin K administration, weighing of the newborn, BCG vaccination, first dose of hepatitis B immunization, newborn screening test, newborn hearing test and professional fee. -Cebu Daily News