COVID-19 patients who are mild and asymptomatic, and isolating at home are now covered by a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefit package.

PhilHealth posted Thursday, August 19, on its Facebook page its circular 2021-0014 known as the COVID-19 Home Isolation Package (CHIBP).

“This PhilHealth circular shall apply to all claims for home isolation services filled by accredited PhilHealth isolation facilities, infirmaries, hospitals and Konsulta providers who have accomplished the necessary documentary requirements to provide the CHIBP,” the state insurer said.

The state insurer said that CHIBP will be an option for patients who “meet the social and clinical criteria” for home quarantine and are able to receive health support directly from their houses.

PhilHealth said that only accredited facilities in areas identified as “surge areas” by the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 (IATF) can apply for re-accreditation as CHIBP provider until December this year. Patients covered by CHIBP should also be living in areas identified as high-risk.

Surge areas, as defined by PhilHealth, are those high-risk geographic areas declared by the IATF.

Below are the services covered by CHIBP:

The state health insurer said that the corresponding reimbursement rate is P5,917.00 per claim.

“The reimbursement for government health care facilities shall be utilized to cover all services and medicines provided for in this benefit package and other operating expenses to support the delivery of care,” PhilHealth said.

“Patients shall shoulder payment for services not included in the package,” PhilHealth added.

The state insurer said that patients who passed the clinical and social criteria will be able to avail the CHIBP. They will be assessed by their Barangay Health Emergency Response Team.

Read the full PhilHealth circular on the COVID-19 isolation package below:

The circular will take effect 15 days after its publication. PhillHealth said in a Facebook post that the circular was published on August 19, 2021. – Rappler.com