Health insurer now covers orthopedic implants
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said Wednesday it has granted the provisional contracting of its Z Benefits for orthopedic implants in response to the devastating magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu and nearby provinces on Sept. 30.
The state insurer said the move follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who ordered government agencies to mobilize immediately and provide all necessary support to affected communities.
Currently, only one PhilHealth-accredited hospital in Cebu is authorized to provide Z Benefit packages for orthopedic implants.
To address this gap, the PhilHealth Board approved a special policy granting President and chief executive officer Edwin Mercado the authority to relax key policies during a state of calamity. This would ensure that more facilities can provide urgent orthopedic procedures without delay.
“This is not just a matter of policy, but of timely action to save lives and limbs,” he said. “By easing restrictions, we are ensuring that those injured in this calamity receive proper treatment without delay or undue cost.”
