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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6033

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

People with disabilities (PWDs) are among the most vulnerable groups in the
society. Globally, over 1 billion people, or approximately 15% of the world’s population,
have some form of disability. About 110 to 190 million people 15 years and older have
significant difficulties in functioning. Moreover, the rapid spread of chronic diseases
and population ageing contribute to the increasing rates of disability.

Based on the 2010 Census, there are 1,443,000 PWDs comprising 1.57% of the
total population, in the Philippines. Majority are poor and do not have access to basic
services. Given their conditions, PWDs need greater attention and considerations in
terms of health needs, without discrimination. However, reports show that PWDs have
less access to health services and therefore have greater unmet needs.

Under Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, it is the
policy of the State to provide PWDs, the opportunity to participate fully into the
mainstream of society. Thus, the State shall give full support to the improvement of
their total well-being and their integration into the mainstream of society.

‘This measure seeks to provide mandatory PhilHealth coverage to all indigent,
abandoned and orphaned PWDs to give them full access to medical and healthcare
services when need arises. Although Republic Act 7875 as amended, otherwise known as
the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 includes those “children who are twenty-one
(21) years old or above but suffering from congenital disability, either physical or
mental, or any disability acquired that renders them totally dependent on the member
for support, as determined by the Corporation” as among the legal dependents of a
PhilHealth member, these PWDs may lose the coverage once they have been deprived by
death of one or both of their parents.

The coverage will also be extended to PWDs who were orphaned, abandoned or
have no known family willing and capable to take care of them as well as to indigent
PWDs as determined by the National Council on Disability Affairs.

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

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 6039

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE
FOR ALL INDIGENT, ABANDONED AND ORPHANED PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES (PWDs) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This act shall be known as “Persons with Disability (PWD)
Philhealth Coverage Act of 2015.”

SECTION 2. All indigent, abandoned, and orphaned persons with disability
(PWDs) shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The funds necessary to ensure enrollment
of all orphaned and abandoned PWDs shall be included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following
terms are hereby defined as follows:

(a) “Disability” shall refer to any of the following:

1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more
psychological, physiological or anatomical function of an individual or
activities of such individual;

2) arecord of such disability and impairment; or

3) being regarded as having such an impairment.

(b) “Abandoned” refers to those PWDs who have no known family willing and
capable to take care of them.

(©) “Indigent” refers to PWDs whose family or primary caretaker has no visible
means of income or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence the family, to
be determined by the National Council on Disability Affairs and the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), taking into account the members of
the family dependent upon him or her for subsistence.

(a) “Orphaned” refers to those PWDs who have been deprived by death of a
parent who is a breadwinner of the family or both parents have not been adopted.


SECTION 4. Mandatory Philhealth Membership for PWDs. — To help PWDs in
their pursuit to become productive citizens, they shall be afforded mandatory
membership of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) subject to the
guidelines to be implemented by the DSWD in conjunction with the Department of
Health (DOH).

SECTION 5. Appropriations. —The amount needed for the implementation of
this Act shall be taken from the annual general appropriations of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - PhilHealth, DSWD and
DOH and NCDA, within (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - The declaration of unconstitutionallly or
invalidity of any provisions of this Act shall not affect the other provisions.

SECTION 8. Repealing or Amending Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive
orders, and rules and regulations, which are not consistent with this Act, are hereby
modified, amended or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
‘Approved,