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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1034 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MILAGROS AQUINO-MAGSAYSAY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide for free hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other similar 
essential dialysis procedures approved by the Department of Health (DOH) for Filipino senior 
citizens.   
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) continues to be a major health concern which affects an 
estimated one on every ten persons. Although usually considered a comorbidity of diabetes and 
hypertension, kidney disease has numerous complex causes. It has been shown that the elderly, 
especially those senior citizens from 65 to 74 years old are prone to CKD, with one in every five 
men, and one in every four women affected. This susceptibility places senior citizens at a higher 
risk of serious complications and death from heart attacks and strokes.  
The Global Burden of Disease Study of 2015 estimated 1.2M people died from kidney 
disease, a 32% increase from 2005. The 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study conducted by the 
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) emphasized the continuing considerable 
impact of CKD on mortality and morbidity rates around the world. The World Health Organization 
(WHO) itself estimates 5 to 10 million people die annually from kidney disease. 
In the Philippines, kidney disease, especially End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is already 
the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos. According to the National Kidney and Transplant 
Institute (NKTI),120 Filipinos per million population per year develop chronic renal failure. The 
Philippines is said to have experienced a large rise in the prevalence of dialysis with an 
approximate increase of 400% over the past 10 years. At present, more than 5,000 Filipino patients 
are undergoing dialysis and an approximately 1.1 million people worldwide are on renal 
replacement therapy.   
Thus, access to proper treatments like hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other dialysis 
procedures may mitigate the suffering and adverse effects of CKD, although at a significant cost. 
Previously, under PHILHEALTH Circular No. 22-2015, only covered 90 of the 144 needed 
dialysis sessions, leaving the remaining 54 sessions in the amount of around P135,000.00 to be 
July 1, 2025
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borne by the patient. With the passage of Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
“Universal Health Care (UHC) Act”, it is now provided that a portion of the funds from the 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) income and Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) charity fund shall be transferred to PHILHEALTH for the 
improvement of benefits packages, including the hemodialysis benefits package. PHILHEALTH 
Board Resolution No. 2776, Series of 2023 further expanded the hemodialysis benefit package to 
cover 156 HD sessions per year, or 52 weeks of 3x a week HD sessions.   
Considering the reality that many senior citizens are already undergoing dialysis 
procedures, and the inevitability of many Filipino elderly developing CKD which will eventually 
require costly dialysis sessions, this bill seeks to institutionalize and further formalize such 
expanded benefit packages under PHILHEALTH, specifically for dialysis treatments for senior 
citizens. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
HON. MILAGROS AQUINO-MAGSAYSAY 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1034 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MILAGROS AQUINO - MAGSAYSAY   
____________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE HEMODIALYSIS, PERITONEAL DIALYSIS, 
AND OTHER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-APPROVED DIALYSIS PROCEDURES 
TO FILIPINO SENIOR CITIZENS 
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 “Free Dialysis for Seniors Act of 
2025”.  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – It shall be the declared policy of the State to protect and 
promote the welfare and interest of Filipino senior citizens, and ensure a decent and dignified 
standard of living and quality of life by providing accessible programs and affordable services. 
Under the 1987 Constitution, Article XIII, Section 11, the State is mandated to “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.” In addition, Article 
II, Section X declares: “The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national 
development.” Moreover, Article XV, Section IV provides: “The family has the duty to care for its 
elderly members, but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.”  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:  
a. “Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 (CKD5)” - refers to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or an
advanced stage of kidney disease resulting to irreversible loss of nearly all ability to remove toxic
by-products from the blood.


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b. "Hemodialysis (HD)" - refers to medical procedure of removing fluid and waste products from 
the blood, and correcting electrolyte imbalances. This is accomplished using a synthetic membrane 
or dialyzer, which is also referred to as an “artificial kidney”.  
 
c. "Philippine Dialysis Database (PDD)" – refers to a system that collects data on members and 
dependents with CKD5 (previously known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)), who are 
prescribed HD, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation (KT).  
 
SECTION 4. Free Dialysis Sessions for Filipino Senior Citizens – The cost of the needed 
hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other DOH-approved dialysis procedure shall be reimbursed 
by the Philippine 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 all official 
receipts for drugs, supplies, and laboratory procedures dated thirty (30) days prior to the date of 
the claimed session.  
 
SECTION 5. Manner of Availment -  Pursuant to PHILHEALTH Circular No. 2023-0009, the 
free dialysis for free senior citizens shall be availed of under the following terms: 
 
a. Senior citizen patients with CKD5 on dialysis treatment shall be allowed up to a maximum 
of 156 treatment sessions per year based on the prescription of their nephrologist; 
b. All senior citizen patients diagnosed with CKD5 shall be registered in the PDD in 
accordance with PC No. 2016-0007, or “PhilHealth Dialysis Database (PDD)”; 
c. The package rate for HD treatment is P2,600/session, divided between health facility (HF) 
and professional, as follows: 
 
Package Rate:  
 
HD Fee 
 
 
Professional Fee 
P2,600.00 
 
 
P2,250.00                
 
P350.00 
 
d. The benefits package includes the use of facility and dialysis machine, PNF drugs as 
needed, IV solutions, supplies, dialyzer, and professional fees; 
e. The 45-day annual benefit limit shall not apply to the 156 HD benefits package. In the 
event that the CKD5 patient on HD needs hospital confinement, the HD session shall be 
filed separately and shall not overlap with the In-Patient claim; 
f. Unused HD treatment session of the current year shall not be carried over to the succeeding 
year; 
g. The “No-Balance-Billing (NBB)” Policy, as stipulated under PC No. 2017-0017, shall 
apply to healthcare services contemplated under PhilHealth Circ. 2023-0009; 
h. Accredited health facility providing services for the HD shall be subject to the current 
performance monitoring policy of the PhilHealth; 


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i. Accredited health facility shall comply with all the provisions in their Performance 
Commitment and other rules and regulations governing PhilHealth accreditation; 
j. In case of delays in the filing of claims due to natural calamity or other fortuitous events, 
the existing guidelines of PhilHealth on providing special privileges to those affected by 
fortuitous events shall apply; 
k. In order to educate the general public and increase their awareness of this benefits package 
and to promote informed decision-making and participation among elderly patients, 
healthcare professionals, and health facilities, and other stakeholders, marketing and 
promotional activities shall be undertaken following the integrated marketing and 
communications plan of PhilHealth; 
l. The monitoring of benefits delivery and performance of health facility shall be anchored 
on PhilHealth’s monitoring framework. Random post-audits shall be conducted upon 
implementation of PhilHealth Circ. 2023-0009 to monitor, evaluate, and revise this policy, 
as necessary; and 
m. In consultation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, experts and technical staff, 
the PhilHealth shall conduct the policy review of this benefits package as necessary, and 
recommend further enhancements for better implementation and optimum availment of 
senior citizens. 
 
SECTION 6. Appropriation - The amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged to the current year’s appropriations of the DOH and the PHILHEALTH, in the current 
and subsequent General Appropriations Act and their own respective funds.  Thereafter, such 
amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
This is without prejudice to the portion of funds that PHILHEALTH may continue to receive from 
the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for further improvement of existing benefit packages, programs or 
services under PHILHEALH. 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations- Within ninety (90) days or three (3) months 
from the approval of this Act, the DOH, PHILHEALTH, the National Commission on Senior 
Citizens (NCSC), in coordination with other relevant implementing agencies and concerned 
stakeholders, shall formulate and promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act.  
SECTION 8. Separability Clause – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 


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SECTION 10. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the 
Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved