1. Review of claims status for the NHIF Phase One AD Kiwara Gradeline Minja Manfred Störmer Ulrika Enemark

2. Background Contributions and reimbursements 2004/5 –Contributions collected 24.0 bn TSh –Claims lodged 4.9 bn TSh –Reimbursements paid 4.2 bn TSh NHIF accredited facilities (sept 2005) –3,358 government facilities –594 private facilities (mostly faith-based) –68% of accredited facilites are active (june 05)

3. Overall aim Aim: Strengthening the system of claims and reimbursement for the benefit of district health services Two phases –Situation analysis –Pilot implementation in selected districts

4. Objectives, Phase One To analyse the relative importance of NHIF funding reasons for not registering with NHIF reasons for the low level of claims submitted flow of reimbursement to providers and the use of reimbursements

5. Methodology Document review Semi-structured interviews Field visits to Tanga and Mwanza Region –7 districts –24 health facilities at varying levels, ownership and location Limitations

6. Findings

7. Importance of NHIF funding 1 National level: –NHIF contributions: 4.8% of total on-budget expenditures (2004/5) –Table 1. NHIF reimbursements compared to total health sector expenditures 2001-04 Actual Budget 2001/022002/032003/042004/05 NHIF claims paid (mill TSh)247.41345.93808.44204.6 NHIF reimbursement to total recurrent health exp0.22%0.98%2.34%1.82% NHIF reimbursement to total domestic health exp.0.26%1.22%2.54%2.27% Note: Total recurrent excluding AGO spending on NHIF.

8. Importance of NHIF funding 2 District level Table 1. NHIF reimbursements to districts compared to total health care budget for selected districts DistrictAverage Annual health budget Av. Annual NHIF reimbursements NHIF to total health budget Mill TSh % Magu1,608241.5 Handeni1,45980.5 Sengerema916151.6

9. Importance of NHIF funding 3 Facility level –The low end: At dispensaries NHIF contribution is negligible: 0.5-3% of total cost sharing –The high end: At faith-based facilities 20-50% of cost sharing is recovered through NHIF

12. Accreditation 1 Factors affecting # of privateaccredited facilities Accreditation process perceived as smooth Level of rates – FBOs, Pharmacies: Generally acceptable, but is needs revision more often –PFP: On the low side Low level of awareness in PFP sector Some skepticism towards government operations

13. Accreditation 2 Factors affecting access to quality services Accreditation guideline for ideal rather than minimum criteria not useful –Few facilities meet criteria –Accreditation rarely denied or revoked Government facilites are given blanket accreditation Pharmacies are accredited in only few places

14. Registration 1 Process clearly defined by Act no. 8 of 1999 which established NHIF Eligibility well-defined Membership volume (sept 05) –Members 266,131 Beneficiaries 1,224,20 Identity cards

15. Registration 2 Current issues in relation to registration Problems with cards Membership compliance problems

16. Claiming - Processing of Claim Forms Claim forms are generally filled in Staff aware that funds will be earmarked for their health facility Some facilities do not have the summary page of the coding list, price list Lack of qualified staff creates problems also for processing NHIF claims Retraining of staff needed Claim forms are appropriate

17. Claiming - Submission of Claim Forms, Feedback and Monitoring Claims are filled in but not always submitted (both at health facility and DMO level) NHIF provides feedback for rejected claims; for some dispensaries and h/centres difficult to understand No correction of mistakes allowed Lacking monitoring instruments at health facility and DMO level on claims and reimbursements Districts with NHIF Co-ordinator had better quality control and monitoring

18. Reimbursement and use of funds Delays in payment not caused by late claiming occur, especially in Tanga; Mwanza doing well; but improving Some health facilities, esp. at lower level, are not aware of how to access the NHIF reimbursement funds

19. Reimbursement and use of funds Hospitals have to deposit their funds at the sub- treasury at regional level => complicated and time consuming procedures Lower level health facilities use various options for depositing funds: Account #6 at district level HSF account in the sub-treasury at regional level A common cost sharing account at district level A cost sharing account at facility level

20. Benefit package Reimbursable drugs do not correspond to content of KIT Limitation of inpatient days can cause problems Awareness of package limitation among NHIF beneficiaries Bypassing of referral system

21. Recommendations