State and private hospitals fail to strike deal on NHIF

The government and private hospitals on Thursday failed to agree on the treatment of patients covered by NHIF.

The hospitals claim the insurer owes them about Sh22 billion. They say patients covered by NHIF will start paying for services in cash beginning this week.

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha had promised the fund would disburse Sh2 billion by the end of this week.

“I can’t give timelines on when [all] the funds will be released unless the Treasury has given commitment. We are tied on the areas identified but they have assured to release Sh2 billion by the end of next week,” Nakhumicha told MPs last week.

However, the funds have not been released.

The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (Rupha) held talks with the ministry officials but did not make a decision if they would resume serving patients covered by NHIF.

Association chairman Brian Lishenga said Rupha would hold its annual general meeting in Nairobi to deliberate on the matter.

The meeting was attended by acting Health director general Patrick Amoth and Social Health Authority chairperson Timothy Olweny.

Lishenga said although the government had shown goodwill in resolving the matter, NHIF members must still pay in cash.

He, however, noted that the outcome of the AGM will determine the way forward on the matter.

"As an association, we are still in talks. We have a lot of commitment from the highest levels of government but essential providers need to see more, they need to see a plan for settling the bills," Lishenga said.

"We will be discussing that during our AGM in the afternoon and the resolutions that come from that AGM will be binding to the members, so as it is, the notice is still in place." 

Lishenga said the purpose of the meeting is to see whether there will be a way forward.

The association wants the Sh22 billion debt cleared by June 30, before SHA takes over.

Speaking during the forum, Amoth reiterated the government's commitment to sort out the matter even as NHIF transitions to the Social Health Authority.

He acknowledged that private hospitals are the backbone of the attainment of UHC and the government will play its role in ensuring existing challenges and gaps are addressed.

"I note the cry that your association has raised concerning the delays in payment from NHIF and I want to assure you that this matter is receiving the highest attention at the highest level of government," Amoth said.

He said no claim will go unpaid.

"No valid claim will go unpaid however long it takes. This problem of delayed payments will be addressed before SHA kicks in," Amoth said.