MANILA — The Dialysis Coalition of the Philippines, Inc. (DCPI) believes that the recent increase in dialysis benefits by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) could lead to the closure of many dialysis treatment centers.

In PhilHealth Circular 2023-0014, the package rate for hemodialysis was increased to P4,000 from P2,600 per session.

READ: PhilHealth approves increase for dialysis benefit package to P4,000 per session

According to Dr. Michael Manalaysay, DCPI president, this is a significant help for patients but will severely impact treatment centers.

Manalaysay explained that the  total cost of a hemodialysis session ranges from P5,200 to P6,000, which is far from the P4,000 package rate.

“Sa lahat po ng centers, talagang malulugi po, it is way below what we spend for treatment… Hindi nila isinama yung provision na balance billing, so we can charge,” said Manalaysay on the sidelines of the Dialysis Stakeholders Summit held on July 17, 2024, in Pasig City.

 (P4,000 is not really appropriate. All centers will incur losses as this is far below our actual treatment costs. They also did not include the provision for balance billing, so we can charge the excess.)

They have communicated their concerns to PhilHealth, which has promised to address the disagreements in the memorandum circular.

“Sabi nila by August, maayos yan. Pero para sa amin kasi iyong mga center namin, two weeks na lang, lugi na. Kung hintay pa sila ng another month, baka magsara po ang maraming centers” said Manalaysay.

 (They said it will be resolved by August. But for our centers, in just two weeks, we are already at a loss. If they wait another month, many centers might shut down.)

The Dialysis PH Support Group Inc. also acknowledges that the increase in the dialysis benefit is a significant help to patients, but they are worried that in the long run, it will affect the treatment centers they rely on.

READ: NKTI official alarmed by 40% rise in new dialysis patients

“Maibibigay na po ang kumpletong pangangailangan para sa buong taon. Sumunod naman po ngayon ang pag-increase ng coverage na malaking bagay po…. Kung titingnan natin ang circular, napakalaking tulong talaga sa mga pasyente dahil maco-cover na ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan,” said the group's founder and president, Reynaldo Abacan Jr.

 (This will provide the complete needs for the whole year. The increase in coverage is a big help. If we look at the circular, it is a huge benefit to patients as their primary needs will now be covered.)

He said, though, that the group is worried that the dialysis centers might not be able to shoulder the costs for long.

 “Inaalala po namin na baka dumating ang time na hindi na nila kayanin ang gastos. Mai-provide nga nila pero kung hindi naman po makikita yung dialysis center, magsasara po sila at mawawalan kami ng mga masasalangan,” Abacan added.

(They may provide it now, but if the dialysis centers don't make money, they will close and we will have nowhere to go.”)