Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3924

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Kidney diseases are the seventh leading cause of death in the Philippines. According
to the Department of Health, 23,000 Filipinos underwent dialysis due to kidney failure in
2013, nearly four times higher than the 4,000 cases recorded in 2004, or a 10 to 15 percent
increase a year.

Dialysis is very costly for most Filipinos who suffer from chronic kidney diseases. To
have adequate treatment, a patient has to spend Php25,000 to Php46,000 per month.

This bill seeks to ease the financial burden of patients suffering from renal failure. It
directs the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to increase the number of dialysis
treatment coverage of members of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) from 45
sessions to 90 sessions per year. It also provides a maximum coverage limit of
Php225,000.00 annually for dialysis treatment.

In line of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo._ 3924

Introduced by Congressman ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION TO INCREASE THE
COVERAGE FOR DIALYSIS TREATMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM TO NINETY (90) SESSIONS PER YEAR

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

SECTION 1. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall increase
the coverage for dialysis treatment of members of the National Health Insurance Program
from forty-five (45) sessions to ninety (90) sessions per year, or until the maximum limit of
the annual package in the amount of two hundred twenty-five thousand pesos (Php
225,000.00) is consumed.

SEC 2. Hospitals, dialysis centers and other health facilities shall comply with the
safety and quality standards of dialysis services which shall be strictly monitored by the
PhilHealth and the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau of the Department of
Health (DOH).

SEC 3. Private and public hospitals, dialysis centers and other health facilities shall
be mandated to report incidences and the prevalence of renal disease to the Philippine
Renal Disease Registry of the DOH as a requirement for the renewal of their DOH licenses
to operate a hemodialysis center or unit.

SEC 4. The DOH shall, after due process, determine the appropriate administrative
sanctions to be meted out to hospitals, dialysis centers, and health facilities that are found
to have violated Sections 2 and3 of this Act.

SEC. 5. A periodic assessment and reasonable adjustments of the benefit package for
dialysis patients shall be made by the PhilHealth after taking into consideration its financial
capability and changes in the socio-economic conditions of the country.


SEC. 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the President of
PhilHealth shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Health, issue the necessary rules and
regulations to implement this Act.

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

Approved,