Barely two weeks after the commencement of the re-accreditation exercise of healthcare facilities by the National Health Insurance Scheme, the authorities have called on all healthcare providers to report in writing to the NHIS offices nationwide any Health Maintenance Organisation who defaults in the payment of capitations and fee-for-service.

 

Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria made the call during their visit to the Lagos Zonal Office of the NHIS recently.

 

The Executive Secretary of the scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, who was represented by the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Nasiru Ikharo, said the Scheme paid the HMOs in advance for all enrollees.

 

He wondered why any HMO would therefore default in making prompt payment to the HCPs. He warned that any defaulting HMO would be appropriately sanctioned.

 

Thomas further enjoined service providers to key into the re-accreditation exercise going on nationwide by forwarding their completed forms to the NHIS offices nearest to them and ensure that the Standards and Quality Assurance team of the Scheme have access to all their facilities to ensure re-accreditation.

 

He also called on all HCPs that have not been visited to notify the NHIS office nearest to them.

 

In response, HCPAN National President, Dr. Adenike Olaniba, who was represented by Dr. Shehu Akintade, emphasised the association’s willingness to partner with the NHIS to ensure that enrollees got full satisfaction from their providers.

 

She noted that health care providers had been experiencing shortage of qualified nurses and midwives since the closure of the Lagos School of Nursing and Midwifery by the Tinubu administration.