UPGRADING THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY SESSIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
(Pending upon approval of the President of the Republic of the Philippines)
WHEREAS, Art. 183 (formerly 177), paragraph (e) of P.D. No. 626, as amended, partly reads:
“Art 183 (formerly 177) (e) … the Commission may upgrade benefits and add new ones subject to the approval of the President; and Provided, Further, That the actuarial stability of the State Insurance Fund (SIF) shall be guaranteed; Provided, Finally, that such increases in benefits shall not require any increase in contribution…”
WHEREAS, there is a need to continually enhance benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) to make them more responsive to the welfare and development needs of persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs);
WHEREAS, the Commission has prescribed expense schedules for the Reimbursement of EC medical benefits such as laboratory and diagnostic examinations, professional rates for surgical and medical procedures, doctor’s fees for ward visits, medicines, hospital ward accommodation, hemodialysis and physical therapy sessions;
WHEREAS, ECC Board Resolution No. 2656 dated March 15, 1984 prescribes an amount of reimbursement for physical therapy (PT) sessions at Php45 per session;
WHEREAS, SSS presently implements a reimbursement rate for physical therapy sessions at Php65 per session;
WHEREAS, the ECC proposed the following options to increase the present amount of reimbursement for PT sessions based on a survey of existing PT rates in the different partner hospitals/clinics of ECC in the NCR, Northern/Central/Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao:
Option 1: Increase the PT reimbursement amount to Php 300
Option 2: Increase the PT reimbursement amount to Php 400
Option 3: Increase the PT reimbursement amount to Php 500
WHEREAS, the EC Secretariat requested the SSS to conduct an actuarial study to determine the viability of the State Insurance Fund to finance an increase in the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy;
WHEREAS, the result of the actuarial study by the SSS concluded that the Fund remains viable and will last beyond 2080 even after the implementation of any of the three proposed options on the increase in the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy notwithstanding the other simultaneous increases in EC benefit and that the increase does not necessitate additional EC contribution or funding;
WHEREAS, after due deliberation taking into consideration the actuarial study, the ECC survey and the adequacy indicator for social insurance benefits, the members of the Commission agreed to increase the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy sessions to a maximum of Php 500.00 per session;
NOW THEREFORE, ON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED
This Commission RESOLVES as it hereby RESOLVED to upgrade the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy sessions in the private sector from Php 45.00 to a maximum of Php 500.00 per session;
RESOLVED FURTHER, that all previous Rules and Regulations which are inconsistent with this Resolution are hereby repealed or modified accordingly;
RESOLVED FINALLY that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines for approval of the proposed increase in the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy sessions and that upon approval of the Office of the President, the corresponding Executive Order shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation for effectivity purposes.
DONE, this 25th day of October 2017, in Quezon City, Philippines.
(SGD.) CIRIACO A. LAGUNZAD
Chairperson-Alternate
Department of Labor and Employment
(SGD.) RIZALDY T. CAPULONG
Member-Designate
Social Security System
(SGD.) DIONISIO C. EBDANE, JR.
Member-Designate
Government Service Insurance System
(SGD.) CARLITO P. ROBLE
Member
Employees’ Sector
(SGD.) STELLA ZIPAGAN-BANAWIS
Member
Employees’ Compensation Commission – Secretariat