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Review of claims status for the NHIF Phase One. AD Kiwara Gradeline Minja Manfred Störmer Ulrika Enemark. Background. Contributions and reimbursements 2004/5 Contributions collected 24.0 bn TSh Claims lodged 4.9 bn TSh Reimbursements paid 4.2 bn TSh
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Review of claims status for the NHIF Phase One AD Kiwara Gradeline Minja Manfred Störmer Ulrika Enemark
Background • Contributions and reimbursements 2004/5 • Contributions collected 24.0 bn TSh • Claims lodged 4.9 bn TSh • Reimbursements paid 4.2 bn TSh • NHIF accredited facilities (sept 2005) • 3,358 government facilities • 594 private facilities (mostly faith-based) • 68% of accredited facilites are active (june 05)
Overall aim • Aim: Strengthening the system of claims and reimbursement for the benefit of district health services • Two phases • Situation analysis • Pilot implementation in selected districts
Objectives, Phase One To analyse • the relative importance of NHIF funding • reasons for not registering with NHIF • reasons for the low level of claims submitted • flow of reimbursement to providers and the use of reimbursements
Methodology • Document review • Semi-structured interviews • Field visits to Tanga and Mwanza Region • 7 districts • 24 health facilities at varying levels, ownership and location • Limitations
Importance of NHIF funding 1 • National level: • NHIF contributions: 4.8% of total on-budget expenditures (2004/5) • Table 1. NHIF reimbursements compared to total health sector expenditures 2001-04
Importance of NHIF funding 2 • District level Table 1. NHIF reimbursements to districts compared to total health care budget for selected districts
Importance of NHIF funding 3 • Facility level • The low end: At dispensaries NHIF contribution is negligible: 0.5-3% of total cost sharing • The high end: At faith-based facilities 20-50% of cost sharing is recovered through NHIF
Accreditation 1 Factors affecting # of privateaccredited facilities • Accreditation process perceived as smooth • Level of rates • FBOs, Pharmacies: Generally acceptable, but is needs revision more often • PFP: On the low side • Low level of awareness in PFP sector • Some skepticism towards government operations
Accreditation 2 Factors affecting access to quality services • Accreditation guideline for ideal rather than minimum criteria not useful • Few facilities meet criteria • Accreditation rarely denied or revoked • Government facilites are given blanket accreditation • Pharmacies are accredited in only few places
Registration 1 • Process clearly defined by Act no. 8 of 1999 which established NHIF • Eligibility well-defined • Membership volume (sept 05) • Members 266,131 Beneficiaries 1,224,20 • Identity cards
Registration 2 Current issues in relation to registration • Problems with cards • Membership compliance problems
Claiming - Processing of Claim Forms • Claim forms are generally filled in • Staff aware that funds will be earmarked for their health facility • Some facilities do not have the summary page of the coding list, price list • Lack of qualified staff creates problems also for processing NHIF claims • Retraining of staff needed • Claim forms are appropriate
Claiming - Submission of Claim Forms, Feedback and Monitoring • Claims are filled in but not always submitted (both at health facility and DMO level) • NHIF provides feedback for rejected claims; for some dispensaries and h/centres difficult to understand • No correction of mistakes allowed • Lacking monitoring instruments at health facility and DMO level on claims and reimbursements • Districts with NHIF Co-ordinator had better quality control and monitoring
Reimbursement and use of funds • Delays in payment not caused by late claiming occur, especially in Tanga; Mwanza doing well; but improving • Some health facilities, esp. at lower level, are not aware of how to access the NHIF reimbursement funds
Reimbursement and use of funds • Hospitals have to deposit their funds at the sub-treasury at regional level => complicated and time consuming procedures • Lower level health facilities use various options for depositing funds: • Account #6 at district level • HSF account in the sub-treasury at regional level • A common cost sharing account at district level • A cost sharing account at facility level
Benefit package • Reimbursable drugs do not correspond to content of KIT • Limitation of inpatient days can cause problems • Awareness of package limitation among NHIF beneficiaries • Bypassing of referral system