ACCRA CENTRAL
04/09/2024
OHEMAA ACHIAA AGYEKUM
In a significant move to improve healthcare delivery across the nation, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced the release of GH¢800 million to healthcare providers. This financial boost is intended to settle outstanding claims, reinforcing the NHIA’s commitment to sustaining and enhancing the efficiency of healthcare services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, the authority has already transferred GH¢400 million to facilities across the country. This initial payment will cover claims for the months of April and May 2024, with the remaining GH¢400 million scheduled for disbursement in the coming weeks.
Dr. Aboagye emphasized that the release of funds underscores the NHIA’s dedication to ensuring the sustainability and operational efficiency of healthcare facilities. “The prompt payment of these claims is crucial for enhancing the quality of care provided to NHIS members and supporting the operational needs of healthcare facilities,” the statement noted.
This recent payment is part of a series of disbursements made by the NHIA throughout the year to clear outstanding claims. Earlier in 2024, the NHIA disbursed GH¢300 million to settle claims up to January 2024 for various health facilities. Additionally, on August 17, 2024, GH¢151 million was released to cover claims from March 2024 for higher-tier healthcare providers and April 2024 for lower-tier facilities.
Prior to that, in July 2024, a GH¢135.6 million payment was made to settle claims up to February 2024 for higher-tier providers and March 2024 for lower-tier facilities. The NHIA also made significant payments earlier in the year, including GH¢170.8 million on April 30 to cover claims predominantly for January and February 2024 for lower-tier facilities, and GH¢180 million on March 22 to settle claims up to December 2023.
Furthermore, on February 13, 2024, the NHIA paid GH¢130.2 million to 4,850 mission, public, private, and quasi-public healthcare providers nationwide, largely for claims submitted for October 2023.
The NHIA’s consistent effort in settling these claims promptly highlights its commitment to maintaining the financial viability of healthcare providers, ensuring they can continue delivering quality services to NHIS members across the country.