The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters. [Photo|kenyamanual.co.ke]
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has dismissed reports that it is yet to process or transmitt funds to various health facilities.
This is after various health facilities, particularly private, accused NHIF of reneging on contractual obligations, a move they said saw them decline serve patients with NHIF cards.
NHIF was also accused of failing to pay in-patient claims for the last three months, and to remit quarterly capitation for outpatient services on time.
However, NHIF Chief Executive Geoffrey Mwangi, said all the required monies for over 8,000 health facilities countrywide were already transmitted, and that in case of inconveniences, the parties sort them out amicably basing on the contract
“We have an obligation to vet and verify further the claims sent to us by some service providers, which is a normal practice in any business. We have signed a contract with these facilities and in case they do not provide the required services to our members we don’t pay," he said, adding that such apply to cases involving a few service providers.He was speaking in Nairobi, Tuesday, after a meeting with the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and Christian Health Association of Kenya stakeholders.
Also present was Dr Abdi Mohamed, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals, who said NHIF has always been making prompt payments.