The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has warned medical facilities to desist from imposing illegal charges on beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Such facilities risk having their NHIS licence terminated as retribution.

According to Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Bernard Okoe-Boye, the new directive will take place from January 2023.

“You might hear that some facilities either have been called to the authority to account for their behaviour or worst-case scenario, they might be de-credentialed meaning we will take away their status to see people with a health insurance card.

“I know some facilities will pray they don’t get there because I know that 80 percent of all Internally Generated Funds of all hospitals in Ghana come from National Health Insurance,” Dr Okoe-Boye said.

This comes in response to several complaints that some facilities charge NHIS clients an undue amount of money for the care of ailments listed under the program.

The NHIA, in May 2021, declared that it was on the lookout for authorized service providers who demanded additional payments.

In 2003, the Ghanaian government launched the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The program served as a national health insurance system designed to give Ghanaians fair access to and financial support for essential medical services.

Speaking to the media earlier this month, Mr Okoe Boye said the administration provides GH₵1.5 billion to healthcare providers annually.

“We are making sure our members are properly taken care of. We are ready to revoke the credentials of healthcare facilities who make extra monetary demands from our members with impunity," he said.

As a corporate body, the Authority has the ability to enter into contracts, buy and hold real estate, and undertake other legal transactions in the course of carrying out its duties.

It was incorporated in accordance with the National Health Insurance Act 2003, Act 650.

The Authority's goals include achieving National Health Insurance coverage for citizens and visitors who aren't citizens of the nation but are still within, as well as giving those who are covered by the Scheme access to medical services.

Source: The Independent Ghana