Over GHC207m released to pay NHIA debt to health service providers

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it has paid over 207 million to clear a substantial amount of its arrears to accredited health service providers across the country.

Public health facilities are to receive 106, 484, 179.54 cedis representing 51.3% of the payments while the private service providers will receive 57,845,459.99 representing 27.9%.

Facilities under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) are to get 40, 227, 826.58 representing 19.4% and Quasi-Government service providers 2, 981,810.51 cedis representing 1.4% of the total payments made so far.

A statement issued by NHIA Thursday said “the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has made substantial payments to service providers to reduce the outstanding claims due them”.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced in parliament last Monday that 300 million has made available to the Authority as part of measures to provide liquidity to healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry to help the fight against coronavirus.

“Subsequently, as at 7th April, 2020 barely a week after the announcement, the NHIA has released GHS 207, 539, 276.62 so far to its credentialed service providers”, the statement said.

The Authority added that “the on-going payments will move lower tier providers (CHPS, health centers and maternity homes) claims paid close to November 2019”.

“For this year 2020 alone, the NHIA has so far paid out a total of GHS363, 930, 660.51 to service providers and aims to further reduce any outstanding claims to ensure that NHIS members continue to receive quality healthcare across the country”, it assured.

Meanwhile, the NHIA said as part of efforts to reduce congestion and the risk of staff contracting the deadly coronavirus, all NHIS District Offices outside the partial lockdown areas are operating at a reduced capacity.

“The four Claims Processing Centre’s (CPC’s) throughout the country will only receive manual claims invoices by appointment whereas electronic claims submissions can be made online at any time”, it added.

It has also advised NHIS members to renew their membership promptly.