This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
Published on August 20, 2021
NHIF Fights Back in Row on Biometric Registration ¶
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) is pushing back against a case filed by rural hospital operators over the biometric registration and installation of e-claim systems.
The operators, who are members of the Rural Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA), had argued that the NHIF board announced the changes without consultation and gave a short compliance notice, blocking the public from accessing medical services.
However, in a response to the 850 facilities under RUPHA, the national health insurer maintains that the contract with them is commercial and has nothing to do with constitutional matters.
According to NHIF's Claims Manager James Letangule, the Honourable Constitutional Court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the complaints raised regarding the commercial contracts.
The NHIF is carrying out mass biometric registration of members and deploying the electronic claims management system to its contracted health facilities, seeking to tackle fraud and speed up payment of medical claims.
The operators argue that the biometric registration and e-claim systems are not recognised by the NHIF Act and its regulations.
Through lawyer Jennifer Wachira, the lobby had asked the court to issue conservatory orders against the changes announced on June 14, pending the determination of the case.
But the NHIF maintains that the e-claim system is not new and has over the years been used by contracted hospitals to request for pre-authorisations before offering services to NHIF members and their beneficiaries.
The system, the NHIF says, has also been used in making all visit notifications by NHIF members. According to the insurer, the biometric system will improve efficiency in access to healthcare as well as reduce fraud, abuse, and wastage that rides on impersonation.
