NHIA release GH¢1.3 trillion for health insurance
Gilbert Boyefio
21/05/2009
The National Health Insurance Authority has placed on record that it has released a total of GH¢128,578,851.00 (GH¢1.3 trillion) to the various health insurance schemes in the country for the payment of claims between January and May 2009.
This represents the highest release per similar period, since the inception of the National Health Insurance Scheme, according to the NHIA.
The assurance was given by the Chief Executive of the NHIA, Ras Boateng, in a press release in response to recent media reports that suggest that operations of some NHIS accredited facilities are almost grinding to a halt as a result of non-payment of medical claims.
The release explained that, as is the approved practice, the Authority releases quarterly subsidies to the various schemes which are added to the premiums collected at the district level to pay claims submitted by providers.
According to the NHIA Boss, " because of the unequal utilisation of health services from district to district, the law allows schemes to file for re-insurance with the Authority anytime they are not able to honour claims payment with their available resources.”
He pointed out that, in releasing funds to the district schemes for the payment of claims, the NHIA has to ensure that the existing financial management structures are strictly adhered to, to protect the tax payer's money, adding, “as far as the Authority is concerned, it has been proactive in the release of funds to districts schemes for the payment of claims, especially after considering that enough due diligence was conducted before the release of the funds.”
The Authority consequently assured all its stakeholders about its commitment to the sustainability of the NHIS and pledges to do all within its power to ensure that schemes are paid monies that they are entitled to.
“In order to better serve providers within the NHIS, the Authority will appreciate feedback from them in case schemes fail to honour their obligations to them and would advise that the media is not used for matters that can be solved administratively,” the release said.
A total of eight million Ghanaians, representing 40 per cent of the population are believed to have so far registered with the NHIS, with over four million of them having been issued with their Identity Cards. The 40 per cent achievement is expected to increase to 60 per cent national coverage by the end of this year.
Ghana's three-year-old Health Insurance Scheme is considered unique in the world as it combines Social Health Insurance and Mutual Health Organisation.
Some of the challenges facing the scheme include the lack of infrastructure to do proper vetting of claims and monitoring of fraud; difficulty in identifying indigents for free coverage; weak technical and managerial capacity of scheme management, as well as the lack of risk sharing on the part of subscribers and service providers.
So far, the Brong Ahafo region has the highest registration for the scheme list with 61 per cent, followed by the Central and Ashanti regions which recorded 44 per cent each. Greater Accra recorded the lowest percentage of 19 percent.
21/05/2009
The National Health Insurance Authority has placed on record that it has released a total of GH¢128,578,851.00 (GH¢1.3 trillion) to the various health insurance schemes in the country for the payment of claims between January and May 2009.
This represents the highest release per similar period, since the inception of the National Health Insurance Scheme, according to the NHIA.
The assurance was given by the Chief Executive of the NHIA, Ras Boateng, in a press release in response to recent media reports that suggest that operations of some NHIS accredited facilities are almost grinding to a halt as a result of non-payment of medical claims.
The release explained that, as is the approved practice, the Authority releases quarterly subsidies to the various schemes which are added to the premiums collected at the district level to pay claims submitted by providers.
According to the NHIA Boss, " because of the unequal utilisation of health services from district to district, the law allows schemes to file for re-insurance with the Authority anytime they are not able to honour claims payment with their available resources.”
He pointed out that, in releasing funds to the district schemes for the payment of claims, the NHIA has to ensure that the existing financial management structures are strictly adhered to, to protect the tax payer's money, adding, “as far as the Authority is concerned, it has been proactive in the release of funds to districts schemes for the payment of claims, especially after considering that enough due diligence was conducted before the release of the funds.”
The Authority consequently assured all its stakeholders about its commitment to the sustainability of the NHIS and pledges to do all within its power to ensure that schemes are paid monies that they are entitled to.
“In order to better serve providers within the NHIS, the Authority will appreciate feedback from them in case schemes fail to honour their obligations to them and would advise that the media is not used for matters that can be solved administratively,” the release said.
A total of eight million Ghanaians, representing 40 per cent of the population are believed to have so far registered with the NHIS, with over four million of them having been issued with their Identity Cards. The 40 per cent achievement is expected to increase to 60 per cent national coverage by the end of this year.
Ghana's three-year-old Health Insurance Scheme is considered unique in the world as it combines Social Health Insurance and Mutual Health Organisation.
Some of the challenges facing the scheme include the lack of infrastructure to do proper vetting of claims and monitoring of fraud; difficulty in identifying indigents for free coverage; weak technical and managerial capacity of scheme management, as well as the lack of risk sharing on the part of subscribers and service providers.
So far, the Brong Ahafo region has the highest registration for the scheme list with 61 per cent, followed by the Central and Ashanti regions which recorded 44 per cent each. Greater Accra recorded the lowest percentage of 19 percent.
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