ARMY, PHILHEALTH SIGN MOA ON CAFGU'S HEALTH BENEFITS
FORT Andres Bonifacio, Metro Manila - The Philippine Army and the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation signed today an agreement to
provide basic package of needed health services to all members of the
Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAFGUAA) and
their families, with Army Chief Maj. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz and President
and Chief Executive Officer of PhilHealth Dr. Rey B Aquino as
signatories.
The Memorandum of Agreement shall provide In-Patient and Out-Patient
Package, and Out-Patient Consultation and Diagnostic (OPB) Package
benefits which shall be administered by PhilHealth accredited health
care institutions and professionals in accordance with PhilHealth's
accreditation standards and benefit package guidelines. The benefits
under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) shall consist of the
following:
In-Patient and Out-Patient Package. This refers to the Program package
covering hospital benefits for room and board, drugs and medicines,
laboratory/x-rays, operating room fee and professional fee, including
existing outpatient benefit under the unified benefit schedule different
from those provided by an accredited Rural Health Unit (RHU). This
include in-patient hospital care, such as room and board, service of
health care professionals, diagnostic, laboratory, and other medical
examination services, use of surgical and medical equipment and
facilities and prescription of drugs and biological. The same goes with
out-patient care, except for the room and board.
The enrolled indigent families (the Sponsored Program member and its
dependents) may avail of the benefits provided for under the Regular
In-Patient and Out-Patient Package from any health care provider duly
accredited by PhilHealth.
Out-patient Consultation and Diagnostic (OPB) Package. This refers to
the primary consultation and diagnostic services which are included in
the Program's benefit package and administered, managed and/or delivered
by accredited RHUs/ Health Centers. This includes primary consults with
general physicians, BP measurement, sputum microscopy, other laboratory
tests, specified list of drugs for top five common illnesses of the
region where the CAFGUAAs resides, manual rectal examination, periodic
breast examination, and visual acetic acid wash.
The NHIP refers to the compulsory health insurance program of the
government instituted under Republic Act No. 7875, as amended by RA No.
9241 which aims to implement a universal health insurance system and
provide universal access to affordable, acceptable, efficient and
effective health care services for all citizens to its Program for the
employed, self-employed, lifetime members and the overseas workers
sectors.
The MOA is in line with Section 11, Article XIII of the Philippine
Constitution mandating the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods, health and other services available to all people
at affordable cost. Priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women and children shall be recognized. Likewise, it
shall be the policy of the State to provide free medical care to
paupers.
In his assumption speech, MGen Ortiz said that, "Those Logistics shall
be pushed forward to the frontlines. All available assets, equipment,
and other material support will be prioritized to our field units.
Programs must lead to better armaments, force protection, mobility, and
communication, night fighting capability, medical attention and
emergency support."
CAFGU units are administered by, and under the operational control of,
regular units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Philippine Army
infantry battalions assigned to this function are also referred to as
"Cadre Battalions". The CAFGU units are tasked to prevent the
re-infiltration of insurgents into communities that have already been
cleared of their influence by combat operations conducted by regular
units of the AFP.
CAFGUAA are composed of a paramilitary unit of soldiers and volunteer
reservists, civilian volunteers, inactive military reserve forces and
units who are under the military command and subjected to military laws
and regulations.
That is why, as an important arm in its anti-insurgency campaign, the
Philippine Army sees the importance of formulating and developing
appropriate support systems in organization, health care benefits,
training, equipage, and administration of CAAs nationwide. #
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