660 Private Hospitals Plan To Pull Out Of NHIF

More than 660 private hospitals have threatened to pull out of outpatient services for the members of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The hospitals are protesting a mismatch in capitation rates and delays in signing contracts.

The hospitals say NHIF branch offices have been asking for invoices quoting 1,000 shillings rather than the agreed 1,400  shillings per beneficiary per year. They also say NHIF is yet to distribute physical contracts for the 2022-2024 cycle exposing them to potential legal hurdles.

“We are in a state of limbo as to whether we should serve NHIF outpatient or not because we run the risk of not being paid adequately,” said Dr. Samuel Mwenda, the chairman of the Kenya Faith Based Health Services Consortium (KFBHSC).

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If the said number of hospitals will refuse to admit NHIF members, it will be a huge blow to both the NHIF and the members who mostly rely on private hospitals given their quality services as compared to public hospitals. It will also be an egg in the face of NHIF which is trying to have as many Kenyans as possible join it through monthly contributions.

This is not the first time NHIF is running into trouble with private hospitals. In the past, NHIF accused private hospitals of taking advantage of those who have NHIF cards to overcharge them hence billing the fund amounts beyond the market standard.

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Kenyans are also waiting on the Supreme Court to rule on the outcome of the Presidential elections. This is because if the win of Deputy President William Ruto will be withheld, he had promised during campaigns to change how NHIF operates by including all the Kenyans into the program and forcing those who earn more to pay more.