Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai has said private hospitals stand to lose their license if they fail to be Social Health Authority compliant.
The PS said that private hospitals should remember they are subject to renewal of licenses.
PS Kimtai said when private hospitals fail to offer services and be SHA compliant, they are working against the constitution.
Speaking on Monday, Kimtai said private hospitals should not blackmail the government by not offering services to Kenyans.
“Why do you protest? Why do you stop service yet you knew well that NHIF had your outstanding bill? Since 2016, we have called for negotiations and engagement to prove that it is true. We were ready to pay, but they should not blackmail the government and Kenyans by stopping to offer services,” the PS said.
“If they continue like this, it is obvious; that they are also subject to renewal of licenses. If they are not compliant and don’t want to offer services to Kenyans according to the laws, then close shop; that is not the right business that you are supposed to do.”
Private health facilities wanted the government to first settle National Health Insurance Fund arrears before SHA claims.
The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) and Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH) said 55 per cent of the facilities want NHIF arrears to be considered first.
In a report to the committee, RUPHA and KAPH said data from health service providers show that 26 per cent of private facilities prefer simultaneous payment of both NHIF and SHA claims.
They said 19 per cent support prioritising SHA claim payments while deferring NHIF arrears.
“Private facilities overwhelmingly prefer NHIF arrears settlement (61 per cent), compared to 51 per cent for faith-based hospitals and 49 per cent for public facilities,” the report said.
The report said 56 per cent of facilities have completed NHIF claims reconciliation, “though primary care facilities (Levels 2 and 3) continue to struggle due to lack of awareness and portal access restrictions.”
In early March, the State House announced plans to pay in full all hospitals claiming Sh10 million and below from the NHIF. The amount, it said, will represent 91 per cent of all facilities that were contracted by the insurer.
It added that the remaining nine per cent of hospitals, with total claims of above Sh10 million, will be subjected to a verification exercise that should be completed within 90 days, after which a payment plan will be agreed on.
