TWEENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No
SENATE
328
25
jHi -9 P5‘-13
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR
AN ACT
EXPANDING PHILHEALTH COVERAGE TO INCLUDE BENEFIT PACKAGE TO 
ALL MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Whereas, Article II, Section 15, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 
provides:
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them.
Whereas, Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution further 
provides:
The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and 
other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall 
be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, 
and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.
Whereas, finally. Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Act of 2018, 
established the Philippine Council for Mental Health, the highest policy-making body 
on mental health situation, and mandated the creation of a multi-sectoral strategic 
plan to address mental health status among Filipinos.


In the Philippines, 3.3% of the population or around 3.3 million Filipinos live 
with depression, and suicide mortality rate is 3.2 per 100,000 population.1
In order to address this seeming mental health crisis among our population, 
this bill shall expand the coverage of the benefit package to include all mental health 
disorders and regardless of age group. The benefit package shall, among others, cover 
emergency services, psychiatric and neurological services, and Mental Health Gap 
Action Program (mhGAP), and therapy sessions.
This bill will also address the rising costs of mental health treatment by 
mandating an appropriate increase in PhilHealth's benefit package taking into 
consideration the current costs in medical services.
Therefore, I humbly call for the swift passage of this bill.
CAMILLE VILLAR
1 Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2023. Philippine Council for Mental Health. Accessed 7 Feb. 2023. 
https://doh.gov.ph/sites/defaulVfiles/healthjorograms/Mental-Health-Strategic-Plan.pdf


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
:^i3 Jll-9 P5:13
S. No
SENATE
328
Introduced by SENATOR CAMILLE VILLAR
AN ACT
EXPANDING PHILHEALTH COVERAGE TO INCLUDE BENEFIT PACKAGE TO 
ALL MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress ass&nbied:
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ARTICLE I
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Comprehensive Mental
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Health Benefit Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State affirms the basic right of all Filipinos
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to mental health as well as the fundamental rights of the people who require health
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services. The State commits itself in promoting the well-being of people by ensuring
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that: mental health is valued, promoted and protected; mental health conditions are
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treated and prevented; timely, affordable, high-quality, and culturally-appropriate
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mental health care is made available to the public; mental health services are free
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from coercion and accountable to the service users; and persons affected by mental
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health conditions are able to exercise the full range of human rights, and participate
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fully in society and at work, free from stigmatization and discrimination.
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The State shall comply strictly with its obligations under the United Nations
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Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,


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and all other relevant international and regional human rights, conventions and 
declarations. The applicability of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, otherwise known 
as the "Magna Carta for Disabled Persons", to person with mental health conditions, 
as defined herein, is expressly recognized.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the following terms are defined 
as follows:
(a) Mental Health- refers to a state of well-being in which the individual realizes 
one's own abilities and potentials, copes adequately with the normal 
stresses of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme life events, works 
productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a positive contribution to the 
community;
(b) Mental Health Condition - refers to a neurologic or psychiatric condition 
characterized by the existence of a recognizable, clinically-significant 
disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior 
that reflects a genetic or acquired dysfunction in the neurological, 
psychosocial, or developmental process underlying mental functioning. The 
determination of neurologic and psychiatric conditions shall be based on 
scientifically-accepted medical nomenclature and best available scientific 
and medical evidence;
(c) Mental Disorders - refer to conditions that affect a person's thinking, 
feelings, mood, and behavior. These may be occasional or chronic.
Sec. 4. Mental Health Benefit Package. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in 
consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), along with key stakeholders such 
as professional societies and associations, patient organization, and administrators of 
health facilities, shall develop a benefit package for Filipinos with mental health illness. 
The benefit package shall cover all mental health disorders. It shall include mental 
health therapy sessions, emergency services, psychiatric and neurological services.


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Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP), and others to be provided in the 
implementing rules and regulations. A minor suffering from mental health disorders 
shall likewise be benefited by this mental health benefit package.
Towards this end, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) created 
by virtue of Republic Act No. 11223, or the "Universal Health Care Act", in consultation 
with the Philippine Council for Mental Health shall review the existing case rate 
packages of PhilHealth for mental or behavioral disorders and recommend an 
appropriate increase in the benefit package taking into consideration the current costs 
in medical services.
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The DOH and PhilHealth, in 
consultation with key stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its 
effectivity.
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be 
charged against the total revenue of PhilHealth, composed of premium contributions 
from direct contributors and premium subsidies of the government for the indirect 
contributors.
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
force and effect.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,