The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it has paid a total of 598, 940, 611.70 to NHIS service providers as claims payments from the beginning of this year to date.

The amount, it said, includes withholding taxes.

It said in a statement Wednesday that the first amount of 92 million cedis after which additional 300,000,000 was released by government for payment to the health service providers.

“Additional funds have since been received from government which now totals GHC598, 940, 611.70 paid to NHIS service providers as Claims payments and includes withholding taxes due to them,” it said.

Giving a breakdown of the payment which started from January 1 to June 16, the NHIA said public health facilities received 315,673,613.56 cedis representing 52.8% of the payments while the private service providers were paid 171,959,798.56 cedis pegged at 28.8%.

Mission health facilities (CHAG) also received 100,447,987.95 representing 16.8%, with Quasi-Government service providers receiving 10,030,051.21 representing 1.7% of the total payments made so far.

The statement said the NHIA is committed “to further reduce any outstanding claims to ensure that the Scheme’s members continue to receive quality healthcare”

It said that historically, the NHIA pays an average of 85 million cedis monthly as claims bills to service providers, stating the latest prompt payments indicates that a little over 100 million cedis is being paid to cover every month.

The NHIS, the Authority said has been a major instrument for financing healthcare delivery in the country and the financial mainstay of over 4, 600 credentialed healthcare service providers “accounting for more than 85% of funds that flow into healthcare facilities to treat NHIS members”.

“The NHIS continues to provide financial access to healthcare for many people who otherwise could not afford the cost of their healthcare,” it said.

The NHIA said it is determined to reduce any outstanding claims due service providers to ensure that adequate resources are available to all healthcare facilities, particularly in this COVID-19 era.