To ensure early sustainability, these regional heart centers have been endorsed for certification for the PhilHealth Z-Benefit program which provides substantial financial subsidy for selected cardiac surgery, ie Php 550,000 for CABG, Php 320,000 for TOF and Php 250,000 for VSD surgeries. These reimbursement rates are up to 10 times more than the very low standard case rates for all other cardiac procedures.

Endorsement to Philhealth Z-benefit package of the regional hospital as regional heart center ripples in impact. The Southern Philippines Medical Center becomes a model for this. Having the earliest maturity in infrastructure and personnel with 5 Pediatric Cardiologists, early accreditation was endorsed by PHC by end of December 2013, being the second HCI accredited after PHC (February 2013). Free cardiac surgery was accepted with gratitude to doctors and Philhealth Z- benefit, as with the 355 cases done in children at the Philippine Heart Center.

At the Philippine Heart Center, Z-benefit package significantly contributed to the increase in number of patients. With the PGS 42% hospital scoreboards aligned to this Breakthrough. By June 2015, 94.5% of the target was attained with 18,900 patients. Z-benefit packages for Heart surgery increased Total Surgery cases to 1,564 by June 2015 with 884 adult and 364 for Pediatric CV surgeries. There was a 186M increase in revenue with 15.2% increase in revenue. Gross Revenue from Government sources increased by 110%. Philhealth reimbursements increased from 4.3% to 32%, and No Balance Billing from all other packages increased to 90%, with 42.8% service patients operated.

This significant breakthrough result at the Philippine Heart Center is intended to be duplicated in the regional hospitals to sustain the program all over the country. As the Task force for Z- Benefit Z cardiac surgery, PHC will continuously monitor outcomes.

Figure 8: Status of IGG Breakthrough Goal