4206.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Table 10

Abstract #25975

Universal coverage in the Philippines through the Health Passport Initiative

Melinda Mercado, Director, Claims Processing Group, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Shaw Blvd, Pasig, Pasig, Philippines, 632.637.9999, development@msh.org, Emelina Almario, Health Sector Reform Technical Assistance Project, Management Sciences for Health, Manila, Philippines, Benito Reverente, Chief of Party, Health Sector Reform Technical Assistance Project, Management Sciences for Health, Rosendo Capul, Technical Coordinator, Management Sciences for Health, and Vida Gomez, Management Sciences for Health.

The Health Passport Initiative (HPI) is a strategy used by the Philippine Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA) to attain universal coverage by the country's social health insurance system in five years. The HPI follows two significant changes in the Philippines Health Sector: the devolution of health services to local government units (LGUs) in 1993, and the passage of a national health insurance law in 1995.

The presentation describes the HPI's conceptualization and advance implementation in selected sites. It details how strategic directions set by high-level officials are cascaded down to the local government units through operational planning workshops. Actual implementation processes and experiences are described on how the objective of an "irreversible momentum" will be achieved through focused enrollment campaigns and an enhanced medical and personal public health services benefit packages. Roll-out plans and recommendations to other LGUs are also presented.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the participants in this session will be able to: a) Understand the reasons why the Health Passport Initiative was conceived and is being implemented. b) Describe the implementation modes taken by the HPI in various LGU-sites. c) Appreciate the key success factors of the HPI and the lessons to be learned for its future implementation.

Keywords: Health Insurance, Health Reform

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Management Sciences for health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA