Ho, Sept 30, GNA - The Ho Municipal Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, ha= s been able to pay 10,619,279.71 pesewas out of a total of 11,748,606.90 Ghan= a cedis in claims to service providers in the municipal area. The highest amount in claims paid on behalf of one client amounted to 4,100 Ghana cedis, Mr Mawuli Tsigbey, Municipal Scheme Manager, said at the launch of its Automated Customer Service System in Ho. He said the unpaid claims amounting to 1,029,325.19 Ghana cedis were due to queries and rejections among others.

Mr Tsigbey said revenue generated by the scheme internally amounted to 1,407,660.10 Ghana cedis while it received a subsidy of 9,390,604.89 Ghana cedis from the National Health Insurance Authority. He said the scheme's registered members stood at 170,741 representing 84.4 percent of the total population in the municipal area. Mr Tsigbey said the scheme's clients accounted for 82 percent of thos= e who attended health facilities in the municipal area. He reminded those who had not renewed their expired membership card to renew them.

Mr Tsigbey said; 93If you have an NHIS card that has expired even 24 hours, you cannot enjoy the benefits offered by the scheme." Regarding the Automated Customer Service System, Mr Tsigbey said it wa= s developed by the scheme to help identify clients whose identity cards had expired or about to expire to alert the scheme through texting. He said the automated customer service system, apart from text messaging, could also be used to search for subscribers' details faster a= nd more easily. He said the system, which would operate for 24 hours throughout the week, would reduce renewal defaulting rates, check double registration, increase membership and revenue and ensure easier and cheaper communication between the scheme and its stakeholders.

Mr Tsigbey said the system would also help members and the general public to send in their complaints, suggestions, questions and queries. He said the software could work as stand-alone or in a distributed system, runs all windows operating system, operate with any kind of modem and could be used to perform several normal operational activities. Mr Tsigbey said the system would help in making analyses to facilitate good management decisions.