NHIA on a New Paradigm: Historic GH¢800million for providers, GH¢400million released

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH¢400 million to address outstanding claims from healthcare providers nationwide.

This significant disbursement covers claims for April and May of this year and underscores the NHIA’s steadfast commitment to improving the sustainability and efficiency of healthcare delivery under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

This substantial release not only bridges the debt gap but also reinforces our commitment to a robust and efficient healthcare system.

A statement issued by the CEO of the National Health Authority, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye explained why the Authority is committed to releasing funds in a timely manner.

"Our continuous efforts to release funds in a timely manner are intended to ensure that outstanding payments are within the agreed three-month reimbursement period.

The payment is crucial for enhancing the quality of care provided to NHIS members and supporting the operational needs of healthcare facilities," it said.

The recent payment follows a series of previous disbursements aimed at settling outstanding claims:

Earlier in the year, GH¢300 million was released to cover claims up to January 2024 for various health facilities.

-On August 17, 2024, the NHIA released GH¢151 million to cover claims from March 2024 for higher-tier healthcare providers and from April 2024 for lower-tier facilities.

-This was preceded by a GH¢135.6 million payment in July, which settled claims up to February 2024 for higher-tier providers and up to March 2024 for lower-tier facilities.

-On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the NHIA released GHS170,775,035.07 to cover predominantly claims of January and February 2024 for lower-tier facilities, who form the majority of healthcare providers, and up to November 2023 for upper-tier facilities and healthcare providers.

-On Friday, March 22, 2024, the NHIA paid GH¢180 million to various categories of healthcare providers across the country for claims submitted and vetted up to December 2023.

-On February 13, 2024, the NHIA paid GHS130,244,000.00 to 4,850 Mission, Public, Private, and Quasi-Public healthcare providers nationwide largely for claims submitted for the month of October 2023.

Prompt payment enhances the quality of care provided to NHIS members and supports the operational needs of healthcare facilities. The NHIA’s ongoing financial support is a positive step towards strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system, maintaining strong partnerships with healthcare providers, and ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services to all NHIS subscribers.

Currently, the NHIS Benefit Package covers over 95 percent of disease conditions affecting residents and includes over 550 formulations on the NHIS medicines list, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all diseases under the scheme.

"We are grateful to healthcare providers for their dedication and crucial role in the success of the NHIS. The NHIA assures stakeholders that it remains committed to engaging with them to address any concerns and improve the efficiency of service delivery, claims processing, and payments, "the statement added.

KA

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