NHIA to start weekly payments to health facilities after uncap of health fund
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced that payments to NHIS-credentialed healthcare providers will now be made on a weekly basis, following the government’s decision to lift the spending cap on the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The change, confirmed in a circular signed by the NHIA Chief Executive, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, was communicated on Tuesday, March 25 2025.
It follows an announcement by Finance Minister Mr Cassiel Ato Forson during the 2025 budget presentation in Parliament.
According to the NHIA, the move is in line with a campaign promise by President John Dramani Mahama to improve the reliability of the national health scheme.
“The reimbursement of vetted claims will be made swiftly and on a regular basis, starting this week,” Dr Bampoe stated.
The aim, he said, is to support uninterrupted service delivery by removing long-standing delays in paying service providers.
For years, healthcare facilities across the country, especially private clinics, have raised concerns about the late release of funds.
Some providers had threatened to exit the scheme altogether due to months of unpaid claims, while others resorted to charging illegal co-payments to offset costs.
The NHIA, in its statement, reminded service providers to comply strictly with the rules of the scheme.
Providers are expected to stop the practice of collecting co-payments and are warned against charging NHIS members any unauthorised fees.
Claims submitted must reflect actual patient attendance and must meet NHIA’s reporting standards.
The Authority also expects services to be delivered in accordance with established NHIS protocols.
“Any provider found to be in violation of the mutually agreed-upon NHIA policies, including the imposition of unauthorised charges, will be subject to sanctions without exception,” Dr Bampoe cautioned.
As part of efforts to increase accountability, the NHIA says it will continue to publish details of all claims paid on its website and increase monitoring of healthcare facilities across the country.
