Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

[NETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ 11467

Introduced by AKBA’ REP. PERCIVAL CENDANA

Prefatory Statement

The vision of this proposed legislation comes from Article XIII, Section 11 of
the 1987 Constitution which seeks to make essential goods and services available and
affordable to Filipinos, This state guarantee finds relevance in healthcare especially in
providing treatment for marginalized sectors, such as senior citizens, With heart
diseases, high blood pressure, and diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD) becomes
prevalent within the elderly population. In 2017, it resulted in 1.2 Million deaths.

This should not have been the case. CKD is largely preventable and treatable
through dialysis procedures such as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. However, in
countries where the right to health comes with a cost, such as the Philippines,
universal healthcare is still limited for CKD. The Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (Philhealth) only subsidizes 90 out of the 144 dialysis sessions needed in
a year of treatment, With a case rate of P 2,500 per session of dialysis, lifesaving
treatment for the remaining 54 sessions costs P135,000. Senior citizens are vulnerable
to CKD and most of them only rely on their measly monthly pension. In order to
honor our elderly and give them essential goods and services pursuant to their right to
health, this bill seeks to provide free hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other
Department of Health (DOH) approved dialysis procedures to senior citizens.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



warauswne

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
Third Regular Session

House Bill No._ 11467

Introduced by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaiia

AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE HEMODIALYSIS, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, AND
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROVED DIALYSIS.
PROCEDURES TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Free Dialysis for
Senior Citizens Act of 2022."

Sec. 2. Free Dialysis for All Senior Citizens. — The cost of all the needed
hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other Department of Health (‘DOH’) approved
dialysis procedure shall be fully reimbursed by the Philippines Health Insurance
Corporation (Philhealth), provided such treatment is availed of at Philhealth
accredited hospitals or free-standing dialysis centers. Provided further, that only those
procedures that use the dialysis solutions included in the latest edition of the
Philippine National Drug Formulary ("PNDF") shall be reimbursed by the Philhealth.
Provided finally, that only laboratory procedures and supplies considered necessary
shall be covered by the Philhealth. Philhealth shall, as soon as possible, reimburse ail
official receipts for drugs, supplies, and laboratory procedures dated thirty (30) days
prior to the date of the claimed session.

Sec. 3. Appropriations. — The amount needed for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH and the Philhealth in the
current and subsequent General Appropriations Act and their own respective funds.

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Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the budget of the concerned departments in the annual General
Appropriations.

Sec, 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within thirty (30) days from
the approval of this Act, the DOH, the Philhealth, and the National Commission on
Senior Citizens (NCSC), in coordination with other implementing agencies, shall
formulate rules and guidelines as may be necessary for the proper implementation and
enforcement of this Act.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other
provisions or sections of this Act and the application of such provi or section to
other persons or circumstances, not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,