Manila: PhilHealth's expanded therapy coverage for children with developmental disabilities strengthens the case for enacting a comprehensive national autism care law, Senator Joel Villanueva said Thursday. In a news release, Villanueva highlighted the importance of the recent increase announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address, acknowledging that therapy represents an ongoing financial burden for families.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expansion will see PhilHealth doubling its benefit package for therapy consultations and increasing the number of covered sessions for children with developmental disabilities from 90 to 150. Villanueva remarked that this move aligns with key provisions of the proposed National Autism Care, Support and Inclusion Act, which the Senate approved on third and final reading in March.
The senator, who is both a co-author and co-sponsor of the measure, emphasized that the act would formally recognize persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as individuals with disabilities, thereby entitling them to protections and benefits under existing laws. The proposed legislation also aims to establish a National Plan of Action for ASD, necessitating the integration of screening, early detection, and referral services into primary healthcare and maternal and child health services by the Department of Health.
Furthermore, the bill mandates the training of more developmental pediatricians, child neurologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists to address the current shortage of specialists qualified to diagnose and treat ASD. It also instructs PhilHealth to periodically review its packages to ensure that coverage remains responsive to the actual costs of ASD-related healthcare, habilitation, and intervention.
Villanueva stated, "A law like this closes the gap between diagnosis and actual support," highlighting the long and resource-draining process families endure to obtain a diagnosis and access therapy. The proposal also seeks to enhance inclusive education, employment opportunities, and social protection for persons with ASD, while extending support to their caregivers.
With the Senate version already approved, Villanueva expressed hope that the House of Representatives would act on its counterpart measure, allowing both chambers to reconcile their versions and present the bill to the President. "This isn't a Senate bill or a House bill; it's for every Filipino family raising a child with autism," he concluded.
