Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva urged health authorities to fix major shortcomings in government assistance for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), pointing out that state health insurer PhilHealth has paid out only 482 claims for its autism package since 2017.
During deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets for the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, Villanueva questioned whether the ₱74.449-billion National Health Insurance Program subsidy would offer real relief to families managing developmental conditions.
“A promise on paper is not the same as help in hand. In eight years, this benefit has reached only 482 families,” Villanueva said. “We appreciate PhilHealth’s commitment today, and we don’t have to wait for a new law to start closing that gap.”
PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho acknowledged the minimal utilization rate, attributing it to a severe lack of provider network capacity, with only five healthcare facilities nationwide accredited to offer the care package.
Villanueva further highlighted that while the benefit covers up to 90 therapy sessions, its assessment allowance of ₱3,000 to ₱5,000 fails to cover the actual costs of obtaining an official ASD diagnosis. He pointed to his authored measure, Senate Bill No. 1822 or the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act—which passed the Senate on third reading last March—as a framework to expand support.
In response, Ho stated that PhilHealth plans to roll out a revised policy by year-end that will double the coverage value and the number of covered consultations, adhering to a directive issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his fifth State of the Nation Address in July.
To boost accessibility, PhilHealth is drafting guidelines to accredit individual speech and occupational therapists based on professional credentials rather than physical clinic locations.
The agency is also launching a community screening initiative alongside the Developmental Pediatrics Society to train barangay and daycare workers in early detection.
Addressing the severe shortage of specialized practitioners, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado explained that training occupational and physical therapists requires four to five years, with many graduates leaving to work overseas.
Mercado suggested that higher PhilHealth reimbursement rates and increased professional fees could help retain domestic talent.
“A law on paper does not put a therapist in a clinic. If we don’t make it worthwhile for our own graduates to stay and practice here, families will keep waiting no matter how many laws we pass,” Villanueva said. “We’re ready to work with DOH, PhilHealth, and our schools to change that.”
Villanueva noted that his office will partner with health agencies on temporary fixes while waiting for the House of Representatives to act on its counterpart version of the autism care bill.