NHIA blames Finance Ministry for delay in claims

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has blamed the incessant delay in the payment of claims to National Health Insurance Scheme's service providers on the Ministry of Finance.

According to the Authority, just like any other government institution, it has to go through due processes at the Ministry in securing claims for the various health facilities.

The Communications Manager of the Authority, Selorm Adonoo, speaking on TV3 on Tuesday, July 8, explained that the Authority strives at all times not to go beyond 90 days without having disbursed funds to service providers.

“It is not as if we deliberately want to delay claims,” Mr Adonoo said.

His explanation comes after all 183 members of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) decided not to render services to bearers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards as a result of the incessant delays in receiving claims from NHIA.

“Sometimes, it had to do with the release of funds from the Ministry of Finance but of course we are like any other government institution and we understand the processes of government and the processes of the Finance Ministry,” NHIA’s Communications Manager noted.

He said they are negotiating with CHAG to rescind its decision, which was effected on July 2.

TV3 gathers that claims for January and parts of February were disbursed early this month.

“It takes a bit of a time for them to go through the process to release money,” Mr Adonoo indicated.