Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3405

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recent studies have shown that Kidney failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
have become one of the leading causes of hospitalization and the 10th leading
cause of death in the Philippines. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute
estimates that 100 new patients start dialysis treatments every month and that the
number of dialysis patients has increased 400% in the past ten years

While renal transplant is still the best treatment option, it is currently
challenging due to a shortage of donors and the prohibitive price tag that comes with
it. For patients that have been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, there
seems to be no other option but to undergo dialysis for the rest of their lives, and this,
can set a patient and their family back approximately 200,000 to 400,000 per year.

Despite the passage of the Universal Health Care Law and kidney disease’s
pervasiveness in the Philippines, it remains a low priority in low and middle-income
families as apart from dialysis treatments and procedures, medications and other
concomitant health expenditures are still largely paid out of pocket.

This bill aims to address this problem by directing the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to create a comprehensive dialysis package that
fully covers dialysis expenses, thus benefitting thousands of Filipinos that currently
need immediate medical intervention.

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

=f ENCE REYES:

Representative, AnaKalusugan Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3405

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

AN ACT MANDATING PHILHEALTH TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE
DIALYSIS BENEFIT PACKAGE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive
Dialysis Benefit Package.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. — It is the declared policy of the State to make
available essential goods, health and other social services at affordable cost to all
Filipinos. Pursuant to this, the State shall continuously improve the delivery of health
services and hospital facilities to make those accessible to all

SECTION 3. Comprehensive Dialysis Benefit Package. - Within one (1) year from
the effectivity of this Act, PhilHealth, in consultation with the Health Technology
Assessment Council, shall develop a comprehensive dialysis benefit package which
shall fully cover all costs of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatments, sessions
and procedures done in PhilHealth accredited-health facilities’ Provided, That, for
every (2) years, the patient shall undergo an assessment for eligibility to undergo
kidney transplant.

PhilHealth shall strengthen its measures against anti-fraudulent acts and intentions
associated with dialysis claims.

SECTION 4. 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.


SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of
this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
invalidate or impact any other part of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules
or regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,