The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has extended its two-week deadline to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) which couldn’t meet up with requirements during the recent re-accreditation exercise carried out by the agency.
According to a statement issued by NHIS, spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, chairperson of the agency’s governing council, Dr. Enyantu Ifenne, announced the extension of the deadline at an interactive session with representatives of HMOs.
Recall that Ifene had on Thursday April 5th , issued HMOs a cut-off date to meet all requirements for re-accreditation at a press conference, during which she also disclosed that, out of 57 HMOs, only 11 which scored above 70 percent of the basic requirements for operations qualified for provincial accreditation.
This is as 40 HMOs met 50 percent of the requirements, while six of the firms are not to be considered.
Though Ifene acknowledged that the recent re-accreditation exercise was thorough, she assured operators that the process wasn’t targeted at frustrating them.
‘It is not on the agenda of the council to humiliate strategic industry players or hurt their businesses”, she stressed.
The NHIS board chairperson urged HMOs to view the re-accreditation exercise as a wake-up call, and improve on their operations to the level that can immediately restore public confidence in the healthcare financing industry.
While charging the delisted HMOs to take full advantage of the remedial window to rectify their deficiencies, Ifene also advised those on provisional re-accreditation improve their status as well, and obtain full accreditation.
Osinlu also assured in the statement that the NHIS is working hard to put in place measures to take effective care of the interests of enrolees of the Scheme within the period of re-accreditation , to ensure that they do not suffer inconvenience.
The statement read in part : “In the light of conflicting claims of indebtedness between HMOs and service providers in certain cases, the council has directed that the process of reconciliation of such claims and counter-claims should commence immediately, for a quick and smooth resolution of all conflicts in that respect”.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf reiterated his determination to lead a rebirth at the Scheme, whereby appropriate standards will be adhered to by all stakeholders and the best interests of the lives covered are well served.
Speaking on behalf of the HMOs, Dr. Ladi Awosika, appealed to the the leadership of the NHIS to help protect the market ans also assist defaulting stakeholders, so as to grow the industry.
He also called on NHIS to ensure prompt response to requests and enquiries from stakeholders at all times.
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