Wednesday, August 25, 2010

NHIA RELEASES MONEY FOR PAYMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS ...In Brong Ahafo Region (PAGE 42, AUGUST 26, 2010)

THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GH¢141,263,158.40 for the payment of all service providers in the Brong Ahafo Region from January to May, this year.
The NHIA will soon disburse additional funds to cover the total payment for the bills from June this year to date, as submitted by service providers in the region.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the NHIA, Mr Foster Agyei-Korang, disclosed this at the mid-year review meeting of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme and its accredited service providers in Sunyani.
Mr Foster Agyei-Korang said last year, the NHIA paid a total of GH¢27,632,139.05 to the service providers.
He observed that delay in the submission of claims from some service providers in the region continued to be a major challenge.
Mr Agyei-Korang, therefore, urged all service providers to submit their claims promptly for vetting, processing and payment to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme in the region.
He debunked rumours that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be abolished, and gave the assurance that the scheme, which was established by an Act of Parliament, could not be abolished as being peddled round.
Mr Agyei-Korang said currently, all regional hospitals’ claims were being vetted and processed at the claims centre in Accra which, would reduce the burden and pressure on the region and also pave way for early and prompt payment.
The Manager of the Sunyani Municipal Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Isaac Afari, said the membership of the scheme in the municipality was 216,223, representing 87.19 per cent of the estimated total population of the municipality.
Mr Afari added that within the period under review, the scheme was able to register 14,232 new members and also renewed the membership of 34,900 existing clients.
He stated that the scheme would not relent in its efforts to register at least 90 per cent of the people within the municipality.
According to him, from January to June, this year, the scheme paid healthcare providers a total of GH¢5,124,211.94 for medical bills and prescribed drugs.
Mr Afari called on pharmaceutical and chemical shops which collected money from clients for drugs to desist from such practice.
The head pharmacist, Mrs Mary Saan Diedong and the head of finance, Mr Vincent Tawiah, both at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, also spoke at the ceremony.
They spoke on the topics: “Prescribing of medicines to NHIS clients and issues of poly pharmacy” and “contribution of accredited health providers towards the sustainability of the NHIS,” respectively.
The two officers called on all stakeholders to help sustain the scheme.

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