LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) regional office here is urging health care providers to enlist and be accredited under its Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama Package (KonSulTa) program.
Henry Almanon, PhilHealth-Bicol regional vice president, in an interview on Monday, said at least 26 healthcare providers in the region particularly in Sorsogon province are now accredited with KonSulTa.
"The KonSulTa is a comprehensive primary care benefit (PCB) that provides easy access to essential and comprehensive outpatient benefits. Ibig sabihin po, may primary care provider na po na mangangalaga sa ating kalusugan bago pa man po tayo magkasakit nang malubha (It means, there is a primary health care provider that will take care of us before we even get sick)," Almanon said.
For a healthcare provider to be accredited as KonSulTa facility, they must conduct self-assessment to determine compliance with the set of standards for the package.
"Because of the pandemic, the movement of our people is limited that's why the self-assessment/evaluation tool is being conducted," Almanon said.
As an accredited facility, the provider is expected to give primary care services such as consultation and case management for any condition that can be handled by a primary care physician, provision of preventive health services, referral to specialty and higher levels of care and assisting eligible beneficiaries in accessing services.
Diagnostic tests such as urinalysis, fecalysis, sputum microscopy, fecal occult blood test, pap smear, lipid profile, and chest x-ray must be available, as well as medicines including anti-microbials, fluid and electrolytes, anti-asthma, antipyretics, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensives, antithrombotics, and anti-histamine.
Almanon said PhilHealth-Bicol aims to register every Bicolano for an accredited PhilHealth Konsulta provider of their choice, where they can avail of consultations, health risk screening and assessment, and certain laboratory tests and drugs and medicines as prescribed.
The registration is online (self-registration) or they can go to the nearest PhilHealth local health insurance office for assistance.
"We are currently partnering with different local government units here in Bicol to assist us in the process of registration," Almanon said.
He said the KOnSulTa package will give assurance to the public that a doctor will be there for them if they need medical care and treatment and will help avoid hospital confinement since illness can be diagnosed at an early stage. (PNA)
