{"id":9138,"date":"2014-03-27T18:25:30","date_gmt":"2014-03-27T18:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=9138"},"modified":"2014-03-27T18:59:59","modified_gmt":"2014-03-27T18:59:59","slug":"parliament-demands-immediate-review-of-hnis-capitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/03\/parliament-demands-immediate-review-of-hnis-capitation\/","title":{"rendered":"Parliament demands immediate review of NHIS capitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MPS\"<\/a>Parliament has ordered an immediate review of the controversial capitation program being piloted by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) after a vote.<\/p>\n

The NHIA introduced the contentious program some three years ago \u00a0to curb what officials called increasing health insurance fraud around the country.<\/p>\n

But, the Authority\u2019s decision to pilot the program in the Ashanti Region has been at the center of a never-ending stand-off, resulting in some service providers cutting ties with NHIA.<\/p>\n

Thursday\u2019s decision by Parliament compels the Minister for Health to audit the program and to report its findings to the House within four weeks.<\/p>\n

The vote also commands the Ministry to extend the Capitation Program to three other regions.<\/p>\n

The Chairman of the Health Committee in Parliament, Joseph Yileh Chireh, moved the motion that prompted Thursday\u2019s vote.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cSince there has not been any benchmark practiced before, it is in no doubt that in implementing it, you will face difficulties\u201d including low rates, failure by the NHIA to pay monies a week ahead of the start of treatment of subscribers among others.<\/p>\n

Mr. Chireh clarified that the House is not contesting the benefits of the capitation but mentioned that if there are challenges with the capitation, \u201cbut what we are arguing about is the fact that it was being implemented in that region [Ashanti Region].\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he is optimistic that the Health Ministry and the NHIA \u201ccan resolve the problems and therefore, it will be good after the review to extend it\u2026to three more regions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minority Spokesperson for Health, Dr Richard Anane, seconded the motion.<\/p>\n

On his feet, the Nhyiaeso MP and former Minister for Health criticized delayed releases of funds to the NHIA to run the scheme.<\/p>\n

According to him, the situation seemingly \u201cpushed all the risks onto the weaker legs of the stakeholder group [provider and subscriber] that constitute the scheme\u201d adding that Parliament must be the \u201cdefender of that weak leg in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NHIS capitation is an upfront payment of a pre-determined fixed rate to healthcare service providers for clients enrolled in particular healthcare facilities. It covers only primary healthcare service.<\/p>\n

The program was piloted in the Ashanti Region for two years and about to be introduced in the Volta, Upper East and Upper West regions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @osamidan<\/a>
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