ECC hikes reimbursement for physical therapy sessions, professional fees of physicians in the private sector
The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) laud the significant increase of benefits provided under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) after the issuance of Executive Order No. 54 by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under the said EO, the amount of reimbursement for physical therapy sessions under the EC medical benefits in the private sector is increased significantly from P65.00 per session to a maximum of P500.00 per session.
Meanwhile, reimbursement rates for professional fees of physicians under the EC medical benefits in the private sector has also been increased from P100 for a general practitioner (GP) and P150 for a specialist during the initial visit to P400 per day for a GP and P600 for a specialist during the daily ward visits and a maximum of P1600 for a GP and P2400 for a specialist per confinement. For ICU/CCU Ward, rates per day for a GP is P800 and P1200 for a specialist, and a maximum of P3200 for a GP and P4800 for a specialist per confinement.
Out-patient consultation fee is now P400 for a GP and P600 for a specialist; consultation fee for routine pre-procedure and medical evaluation is now P800 for a GP and P1200 for a specialist; and P1200 for a GP and P1400 for a specialist for pre-procedure medical evaluation with medical indication; and P1200 for a GP and P1400 for a specialist during intra-operative monitoring.
“Based on the recent actuarial study conducted by SSS, ECC’s administering agency in the private sector, the State Insurance Fund shows a notable improvement of its reserves, thus, having the capability to increase EC benefits without requiring any increase in contributions,” said ECC Executive Director Stella Z. Banawis.
“The recent increase of benefits is just one of the many steps ECC is taking now in upgrading the Commission’s benefits and services. Rest assured that we will continue to implement programs that are both viable and relevant to the needs of our PWRDs,” Banawis added.
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PWRDs to receive higher amount of EC Carer’s Allowance
The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) is all set to implement the increase of Carer’s Allowance of persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) both in the public and private sector after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 54 increasing the employees’ compensation benefits of PWRDs on May 8.
The carer’s allowance is a supplemental pension provided to EC pensioners who suffered from work-connected permanent partial and permanent total disabilities.
Under the new EO, the amount of carer’s allowance granted to EC permanent disability pensioners will be increased from P575.00 to P1,000.00 per month.
“This initiative is in line with ECC’s mandate to continuously enhance and upgrade the benefits employees’ may avail under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP). The increase in the carer’s allowance is just one of the Commission’s ways of ensuring that the package of benefits and services ECP provides is more responsive to the welfare and development needs of our PWRDs,” said Department of Labor and Employment Secretary and ECC Chairperson Silvestre H. Bello III.
According to ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, the increase was based on the actuarial study conducted by the SSS and GSIS, ECC’s administering agencies. Based on the study, the State Insurance Fund (SIF) can finance the increase without affecting the stability of SIF which pays for all claims for employees’ compensation.
“The increase is a great news for all Filipino workers. We, in the ECC will continue to look for ways on how we can further improve the program,” said Banawis.
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EC sickness benefits in the private sector rises to P480 per day
In order to provide a more responsive and relevant package of benefits and services to persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs), the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has increased the temporary total disability (TTD) / sickness benefits for the private sector after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 54, increasing employees’ compensation benefits.
The amount of EC TTD / sickness benefits will be increased from a minimum daily income benefit of P10.00 to P110.00 and from a maximum daily income benefit of P200.00 to P480.00.
TTD is part of ECC’s loss of income benefit or a cash benefit given to a worker to compensate for the loss of income due to inability to work.
With the new increase, a worker who suffers from temporary total disability may now receive a possible maximum amount of P960.00 per day, combined SSS and EC benefits, as SSS also provides a maximum of P480.00 per day for their sickness benefits.
“We have been working very hard in upgrading our benefits and services as we want to give our PWRDs the best help and support from the government. We will not stop in implementing quality programs and we will continue to make reforms that will better serve all Filipino workers,’ said ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.
The increase was based on the actuarial study conducted by the SSS, ECC’s administering agency in the private sector. Based on the study, the State Insurance Fund (SIF) can finance the increase without affecting the stability of the SIF and without requiring additional contributions from employers. The fund life of the SIF can last beyond 2080 even with the increased benefits.
A total disability is temporary if as a result of the injury or sickness, the employee is unable to perform any gainful occupation for a continuous period not exceeding 120 days except where such injury or sickness still requires medical attendance beyond 120 days but not to exceed 240 days from onset of disability in which case benefit for temporary total disability shall be paid under the ECP.
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