EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
F irst R e g u la r S essio n  
|
SEN
S.B. No. 
7
5 "’ 
of tlic {o»lMff/Up
'19 JUL -8 All ^3
In tro d u ced  by SENATOR VICENTE C. SO T f^t lll
-iF
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AFFORDABLE DRUG REHABILITATION TREATMENT 
FOR PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC) 
BENEFICIARIES, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 7875, AS
AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
One of the pervading social ills at present is ram pant drug addiction. 
Various laws have been passed to prevent and control this drug m enace. 
W hat has been overlooked however and has not been properly addressed is 
the rehabilitation of drug dependents, providing for such facilities and 
medical treatm ent to ensure their complete recovery and eventual social 
reintegration.
All over the 
Philippines, 
across 
the 
regions ai'e 
private 
and 
governm ent-run rehabilitation centers. However, based on a 2009 survey, 
there are 1.7 million drug dependents. Of this, only 2000 underw ent 
treatm ent and rehabilitation. The cost of treatm ent and rehabilitation 
discourages families of drug dependents to avail of the same.
This 
bill 
therefore 
proposes 
that 
Philippine 
Health 
Insurance 
Corporation (PHIC) beneficiaries who are drug dependents and who subm it 
to treatm ent and rehabilitation to an accredited health care provider shall be 
at an affordable cost. This is p ursuant to the constitutional m andate, "that 
the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
developm ent which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost."


Republic Act No. 7875, an Act instituting a  National Health Insurance 
Program for all Filipinos and establishing the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PhilHealth) for the purpose was am ended by Republic Act No. 
9241. This am endm ent highlighted the inclusion of drug abuse and 
dependency treatm ent as among those personal services covered. It also 
recognized rehabilitation centers as health institutions that are considered 
as health care providers.
This 
bill 
further 
proposes 
am endm ent 
to 
specifically 
include 
rehabilitation treatm ent as among the enum erated categories of personal 
health services to ensure its beneficiaries of affordable rehabilitation 
treatm ent. This bill also calls for the application for accreditation of 
Rehabilitation Centers in order that PhilHealth m em bers will be accorded 
the proposed benefits.
The approval of this proposed bill, is therefore, re^m m encled.
W '
VICENTEyC. SOTTO III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R e g u la r S essio n  
}
S E N A T K  
S.B. No. 
(
wiir
of i.jc iS c rrc u irp
■19 JUL -8 All ■■43
In tro d u ced  by SENATOR VICENTE C. S O T fb  TIP i; 
^
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AFFORDABLE DRUG REHABILITATION TREATMENT 
FOR PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHIC) 
BENEFICIARIES, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 7875, AS
AMENDED
Be it ermcted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. D eclaratio n  o f Policy. - It is a declared policy of the
2 
State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
3 
development including the rehabilitation treatm ent of drug dependents and
4 
individuals victimized by the m enace of drug abuse. With the alarm ing and
5 
continuously increasing drug addiction in the countiy, a faceless enemy that
6 
ruins countless lives and cripples the potentials of our youth, the State
7 
affirms a policy of society against drugs and for the purpose, provides
8 
affordable drug rehabilitation treatm ent for Philippine Health Insurance
9 
Corporation beneficiaries.
10 
SECTION 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7875, as am ended, is
11 
hereby further am ended to read as follows:
12 
"Section 4. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the
13 
following term s shall be defined as follows:
14 
XXX
15 
ZZ) 
DRUG 
DEPENDENT 
AS 
DEFINED 
UNDER 
RA 
9165
16 
(COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002), A PERSON
17 
EXHIBITING A CLUSTER OF PHYSIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND
18 
COGNITIVE PHENOMENA OF VARIABLE INTENSITY, IN WHICH
19 
THE USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG TAKES ON A HIGH PRIORITY
20 
THEREBY INVOLVING, AMONG OTHERS, A STRONG DESIRE OR A
21 
SENSE OF COMPULSION TO TAKE THE SUBSTANCE AND THE


1 
DIFFICULTIES IN CONTROLLING SUBSTANCE-TAKING BEHAVIOR
2 
IN TERMS OF ITS ONSET, TERMINATION, OR LEVELS OF USE.
3 
SECTION 3. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby am ended to read as
4 
follows:
5 
"Section 10. Benefit Package.- Members and their dependents are
6 
entitled to the following m inim um  services, subject to the lim itations
7 
specified in this Act and as may be determ ined by the Corporation"
8 
Xxx
9 
d) Such other health care services that the Corporation and the DOH
10 
shall determ ine to be appropriate and cost-effective.
11 
These services and packages shall be reviewed annually to determ ine
12 
their financial sustainability and relevance to health innovations, with
13 
the end in view of quality assurance, increased benefits and reduced
14 
out- of- pocket expenditures; AND
15 
E) REHABILITATION TREATMENT OF DRUG DEPENDENTS
16 
(1) ROOM AND BOARD;
17 
(2) SERVICES OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
18 
(3) PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS, SUBJECT TO THE
19 
LIMITATIONS STATED IN SECTION 37 OF THIS ACT.
20 
THESE SERVICES 
AND 
PACKAGES 
SHALL 
BE 
REVIEWED
21 
ANNUALLY IN KEEPING WITH ITS PROTECTION 
OBJECTIVES
22 
AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.
23 
SECTION 4. Im p lem en ting R ules a n d  R egulations. - The Philippine
24 
Health 
Insurance 
Corporation 
(PHIC) 
shall 
issue 
the 
necessary
25 
im plem enting rules and regulations in consultation with the D angerous
26 
Drugs Board and relevant sectors for the effective im plem entation of this
27 
Act.
28 
SECTION 5. R ep ealin g  C lause. - All laws, issuances, or parts thereof
29 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
30 
SECTION 6. Effectixnty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
31 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) new spapers
32 
of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.
Approved,