Increase capitation rate to GH¢12 — HIPSAG

The Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana (HISPAG) has appealed to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to, as a matter of urgency, revise the current capitation rate from GH¢2.27 to GH¢12.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HISPAG, Mr Frank Richard Torblu, who made the call, said the request was necessary because of the current economic situation in the country.

Mr Torblu made the call at a meeting of the HISPAG in Kumasi which brought together over 180 members from various facilities in the region.

Mr Torblu said the call for the upward adjustment of the capitation rate was due to the fact that the current rate had led to a reduction in their internally generated funds and quality of care and some health facilities were unable to meet their budget.

The CEO urged its members in the Ashanti Region to remain calm and suspend all actions that would affect their facilities,  while they took the necessary steps to resolve issues associated with capitation.

At the meeting, members of the association wanted to know the outcome of the capitation pilot in the Ashanti Region, the way forward for the capitation in the region, as well as when it would be rolled out in other regions in the country.

For his part, the Communication and Operations Manager of the HISPAG, Mr Anthony Ameka, urged the NHIA to repackage the capitation concept, and emphasised the need to educate all stakeholders such as subscribers and providers.

The Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the HISPAG, in a welcome address, said there was the need for the authority to improve its communication with  stakeholders to ensure their maximum cooperation.

He appealed to the NHIA to solve the problem of delay in the payment of claims to enhance efficiency.