Government Lauds NHIA’s Digital Drive.

Government has lauded the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) digital revolution by describing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Mobile Renewal platform as, “The power of digital infrastructure.”

A Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Oko-Boye touted the Mobile Renewal platform in an address at the official launch of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2020 campaign manifesto in the Central Regional capital, Cape Coast.

According to him, government has resuscitated the NHIS within President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s first term of office.“Incontrovertibly, it has taken the strong Akufo-Addo-tailored economy to wake up structures that have been asleep and has used *929# to wipe out long queues that had choked out NHIA district offices all in pursuit of NHIS card renewal” he stressed.

Digital Revolution The NHIA is progressively moving towards a paperless system in line with the national digitization drive.

The latest novelties are Online Credentialing, Mobile Renewal platform, Claim-it, Electronic Cash Payments.

Online Credentialing Over the years, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received several credentialing applications with attached documents manually from healthcare providers. Ending February (2020), a paperless regime was introduced to improve data storage and electronic communication between Executive Management and the Service Providers.

The online application system on the NHIS official Web Portal making it possible for Service Providers and prospective applicants to submit their forms electronically.

Mobile Renewal platform a greater number of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) members are switching to the Mobile Renewal Service platform to renew their membership.

All NHIS members are required to dial a dedicated short code, *929# on their mobile phones and paying from their mobile money wallets to stay active.

 The Mobile Renewal Service

A platform offers ease and convenience to members and also gives them the opportunity to provide feedback on their attendance to the NHIA credentialed service providers.

At the end of July 2020, the cumulative (January 2019 to July 2020) number of mobile renewals was 9,154,747. Total number of mobile renewals for the month of July 2020 was 573,359 representing an increase of 19% over 482,314 mobile renewals in the month of June 2020.

Claim-it System

The NHIA put in place an efficient system (Claim-it) to restrict fraudulent activities and correct blunders resulting in submission of escalated claims by Service Providers.  Evidence suggests the electronic system is able to make adjustments of about 17% to claims submissions to the Claims Processing Centres (CPC’s).Since its introduction, all 4,600 NHIS credentialed healthcare facilities on the software have seen improvements in claims generation and submission, and claims Managers in the Authority have also realized improved vetting processes as well.

Electronic Receipt  Electronic-Receipting of cash was introduced to at NHIS district offices to enhance social auditing and accountability and this has proven to be the most effective mechanism in preventing corruption.

It has created room for on-site premium banking making it possible for electronic teller systems to be installed in most NHIS district offices where all cash transactions are routed through bank tellers who issue and save electronic copies of transaction receipts.

The risk of cash handling has been reduced. It has substantially promoted electronic reconciliation on financial account and promoted transparency and efficiency in the NHIS operations. This system tracks payments to streamline the operations of the NHIS and make it more attractive.

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah