In a space of seven months, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has upwardly adjusted tariffs for medicines and services covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The latest increment by 50 percent effective, February 1, 2023, was agreed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, the NHIA Governing Board, Executive Management and other critical stakeholders in the health sector.
This development justifies the NHIA’s crusade against illegal fees (Copayments) charged by some credentialed healthcare service providers for services covered by the NHIS.
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Directorate expressed that framework medicines have been increased by 50% plus an additional 30% marginal increase.
According to the statement, Non-Framework medicines have been reviewed upwards by 20% while service tariffs across board have been increased by 10 percent.
The statement further explained that Artemether Injection 80mg/ml and Levofloxacin Infusion 500mg/ml have been added to the NHIS Medicines List and will immediately be reimbursed by the Scheme.
The NHIA implored all credentialed service providers and the general public to take note of these adjustments activated to correspond to the observed increase in prices of most Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API’s).
The last increment of tariffs for medicines and services was done in July 2022, following series of stakeholder engagements.
Copayments Committee
The NHIA in August 2022 established a nine-member Copayments Committee to investigate persistent illegal fees charged by some credentialed healthcare service providers at various health facilities.
As the NHIS major impediment, Copayment is the situation where holders of NHIS valid cards are compelled to pay for services and medicines covered by the Scheme at the point of need.
The NHIA Chief Executive, Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye on several occasions served notice that healthcare providers caught in the Copayments deal would have their licenses revoked.
He said the Authority was committed to abolish the practice and urged all credentialed healthcare providers to be patriotic.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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