All outstanding debt to service providers have been paid - NHIA

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has said all outstanding debt owed its service providers have been settled.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the Authority said over GH¢92 million had initially been released for the payment of these debts even before the Finance Ministry secured additional funding from Parliament a few months ago.

“The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) prior to the announcement in Parliament by Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori Atta, a couple of months ago had disbursed in excess of GH¢92 Million following which additional funding of GH¢300, 000, 000 was received from the government soon after that speech.

“Additional funds have since been received from government which now totals GH¢598, 940, 611.70 paid to NHIS service providers as Claims payments and includes withholding taxes due to them,” the NHIA said in the statement.

Read the full statement below.

NHIA pays service providers

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) prior to the announcement in Parliament by Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori Atta a couple of months ago had disbursed in excess of GHC 92 Million Cedis following which additional funding of GHC300, 000, 000 was received from the government soon after that speech.

Additional funds have since been received from the government which now totals GHC598, 940, 611.70 paid to NHIS service providers as Claims payments and includes withholding taxes due to them.

These payments were effected between January 1 and June 16, 2020, in the following order, public health facilities received GHC315,673,613.56 representing 52.8% of the payments whiles the private service providers have been paid GHC171,959,798.56 pegged at 28.8%. Mission health facilities (CHAG) have received GHC100,447,987.95 representing 16.8% and Quasi-Government service providers have been paid GHC10,030,051.21 representing 1.7% of the total payments made so far.

The NHIA is committed to further reduce any outstanding Claims to ensure that the Scheme’s members continue to receive quality healthcare while ensuring that service providers who are critical partners in the NHIA’s drive to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) are adequately resourced.

Management of the Scheme recently re-assured service providers and the general public of their commitment to ensure prompt payment of claims and the judicious use of taxpayers’ funds.

Historically, the NHIA paid on average GHC85 million as monthly Claims bills to service providers and so the latest prompt payments indicates that a little over GHS100 million Cedis is being paid to cover every month.

The NHIS has over the past sixteen years grown to become a major instrument for financing health care delivery in Ghana and in fact is the financial mainstay of over 4, 600 credentialed healthcare service providers in the country accounting for more than 85% of funds that flow into healthcare facilities to treat NHIS members. The Scheme is credited with improvements in the healthcare-seeking behaviour of many people in Ghana who now tend to seek medical attention earlier than before, thereby avoiding unnecessary deterioration in their health conditions. The NHIS continues to provide financial access to healthcare for many people who otherwise could not afford the cost of their healthcare.

More people are visiting various NHIS credentialed health institutions across the country on account of the Scheme. In fact, the NHIS in November 2019, recorded the highest active membership over 12 million its inception and is still growing.

For convenience and to practice social distancing, NHIS members are advised to renew their membership by dialling *929# from any mobile network with a mobile wallet to enjoy uninterrupted healthcare services.

As a major stakeholder in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHIA is determined to reduce any outstanding claims due service providers to ensure that adequate resources are available to all healthcare facilities. Management also strongly urges healthcare facilities to promptly settle their debts to the pharmaceutical companies to avoid any disruptions in the medicine supply chain.