Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 11086
Introduced by HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The rising cases of mental health disorders in the Philippines is a pressing
public health issue. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that
11.3% to 11.6% of Filipinos are affected by mental health issues, with the incidence
increasing at an average rate of 2.0% annually. This translates to a significant rise
from approximately 7 million to 12.5 million Filipinos diagnosed with mental health
conditions between 1990 and 2019.1
Mental health services need not only be available—they should also be
affordable–especially for those living below the poverty line. Thus, Congress,
through Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Act, has tasked the
Department of Health to “coordinate with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth) to ensure that insurance packages equivalent to those covering physical
disorders of comparable impact to the patient, as measured by Disability-Adjusted
Life Year or other methodologies, are available to patients affected by mental health
conditions”.2
Notably, PhilHealth has made substantial progress by initially covering certain
mental health disorders under its inpatient case rate. Further recognizing the gap in
accessible outpatient care, PhilHealth also introduced an outpatient mental health
benefits package in October 2023, covering consultations, diagnostic follow-ups,
psychoeducation, and psychosocial support through accredited outpatient mental
health facilities.3 This outpatient package marks a promising step in the phased
3 PhilHealth Circ. No. 2023-0018 (2023)
2 Rep. Act No. 11036 (2017), § 30(f). Mental Health Act.
1CPBRD Policy Brief No. 2023 -02: Underscoring the mental health agenda in the Philippines.
Congressional policy and budget research department house of representatives Available from:
https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/images/PDF%20Attachments/CPBRD%20Policy%20Brief/PB2023-02_
Underscoring_the_Mental_Health_Agenda_in_the_Phlippines.pdf
November 18, 2024
3:00 pm


transition towards a comprehensive outpatient and inpatient mental health coverage
envisioned by the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. While we laud the efforts of
PhilHealth, our goal is to have a unified mental health benefits package that is
accessible to all, rather than piecemeal and limited programs that remain vulnerable
to changes in administrative priorities and funding limitations.
This bill therefore seeks to institutionalize PhilHealth’s inpatient and outpatient
mental health benefits program. Under this measure, PhilHealth, in consultation with
the Department of Health (DOH) and key stakeholders—such as professional
societies, patient advocacy groups, and healthcare providers—will develop an
affordable comprehensive benefit package for individuals with mental health
disorders. By legislating a program that clearly defines the benefits for both inpatient
and outpatient mental health care, we aim to establish a national healthcare
framework that is both administratively and financially prepared to address the
growing mental health needs of Filipinos.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
Bicol Saro Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 11086
Introduced by HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILHEALTH INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS PACKAGE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive Mental
Health Benefit Act”
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State affirms the basic right of all Filipinos to
mental health as well as the fundamental rights of people who require health
services.
The State commits itself in promoting the well-being of people by ensuring that
mental health is valued, promoted, and protected; mental health conditions are
treated and prevented; timely, affordable, high quality, and culturally-appropriate
mental health care is made available to the public; mental health service are free
from coercion and accountable to the service users; and persons affected by mental
health conditions are able to exercise the full range of human rights, and participate
fully in society and at work free from stigmatization and discrimination.
The State shall comply strictly with its obligations under the United Nations
Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities,
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”, as well as
Republic Act No. 11036 or the “Mental Health Act” to persons with mental health
conditions, as defined herein, is expressly recognized.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. —As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as
follows:
(a) Mental Health (MH) - refers to a state of mental well-being that enables
people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and
work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of
health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to
make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in;
(b) Mental Health Condition — 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 behavioral that reflects a genetic or acquired dysfunction in the
neurological, psychosocial, or developmental process underlying mental
functioning. The term covers mental disorders.
The determination of neurologic and psychiatric conditions shall be based on
scientifically-accepted medical nomenclature and best available scientific and
medical evidence;
(c) Mental Disorder — A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically
significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or
behavior. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important
areas of functioning.
Sec. 4. Comprehensive Mental Health Benefit Package. — Within one (1) year 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, patient organization, and health facilities, shall develop an
affordable and accessible comprehensive mental health benefit package for all
Filipinos with mental health conditions. The package shall ensure that all Filipinos,
regardless of income level, can access high-quality, continuous mental health care
that meets international standards of comprehensive mental health support.
The benefit package shall provide coverage for a full range of mental health
disorders and shall encompass both inpatient and outpatient services. Specifically, it
shall include emergency mental health services, psychiatric and neurological
consultations and treatments, and services under the Mental Health Gap Action
Program (mhGAP).
Sec. 5 Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Philhealth and the Department
of Health, in consultation
with key stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
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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, circulars, 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,
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