The Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO Mercy Mwangangi/FILEThe Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced the disbursement of a second batch of payments for verified pending claims of Sh10 million and below owed to healthcare providers by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The payments target healthcare facilities whose outstanding NHIF claims have been verified and signed off, as the government continues efforts to clear pending obligations inherited from the former health insurer.
In a notice dated August 14, SHA said the second batch of payments had already been disbursed to the affected healthcare providers.
“The Social Health Authority (SHA) informs healthcare providers that the second batch of payments for verified pending claims of KES 10 million and below arising from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) have been disbursed,” the authority said.
SHA said the payments followed a claims verification and sign-off exercise to establish the validity of the pending claims before disbursement.
The authority said healthcare providers paid under the second batch could access the list of facilities on the SHA website.
The latest disbursement forms part of the ongoing process to settle pending claims accumulated under NHIF before its transition to SHA.
NHIF was replaced by the Social Health Authority under the government's health sector reforms, with SHA assuming responsibility for managing health insurance services and related obligations.
The settlement of pending claims is expected to provide relief to healthcare providers that have for years raised concerns over delayed payments for services rendered to NHIF members.
Delayed claims payments have previously affected the ability of some facilities to purchase medicines, meet operational costs and continue providing services to patients.
SHA said it would continue issuing updates as the payment process progresses, indicating that more healthcare providers with verified claims could receive payments in subsequent batches.
“Regular updates will be issued as the payment process progresses,” the authority said.
The authority has also provided channels through which healthcare providers can seek clarification, submit feedback or make inquiries regarding the claims settlement process.
Providers can contact SHA through its Treasury Department or the Director of Benefits and Claims, according to the notice signed by SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi.
The payment exercise comes as the government continues efforts to strengthen SHA and address concerns surrounding the transition from NHIF.
The authority has been verifying pending claims to ensure that only genuine and properly supported claims are settled.
Healthcare providers have continued to press for the settlement of outstanding NHIF debts, saying delayed payments have placed financial pressure on facilities and, in some cases, affected service delivery.
The latest announcement provides a measure of relief to facilities that have successfully completed the verification and approval process.
SHA said further information and updates on the ongoing payments would be communicated as the exercise continues.
