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{
"id": 1092590,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1092590/?format=api",
"text_counter": 347,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Navakholo, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
"speaker": {
"id": 2543,
"legal_name": "Emmanuel Wangwe",
"slug": "emmanuel-wangwe"
},
"content": "One of the most important ways to achieve this is through a seamless national health insurance plan covering everybody regardless of their financial ability. In this regard, therefore, the proposals in this Bill are aimed at making the NHIF a national health insurance scheme that is mandatory to all Kenyans. The target is eventually to cover, at least, five million poor households, but as a start, the Government has committed to start with covering one million poor households this year. To expand the mandate of the NHIF to offer universal health coverage, this Bill seeks to increase the revenue raised through the NHIF in three main ways. This Bill seeks to, first, make the NHIF mandatory for all, whether salaried or employed. Currently, the informal sector, which contributes 83 per cent of the Kenyan workforce, has remained voluntary. Second, the Bill requires employers to make standard and matching contributions in respect to their employees’ NHIF contributions to improve the financial sustainability of the NHIF, as well as its redistributive potential. On this point where matching will apply, there is still a debate as we are aware that the Committee is yet to file a report. However, they will look at the report from the Committee, which is looking at two aspects of matching. It is either going to call it matching or top-up. Matching means that if one member contributes Kshs400, the employer will also contribute Kshs400. However, if we approve the top-up, if, for example, the payable amount is Kshs500, the employee will contribute Kshs150 and the difference shall be met by the employer. Third, for co-insured patients with a payment insurance facility and the NHIF, the Bill provides that the healthcare providers will be required to bill the private insurer first before billing the NHIF. However, the NHIF will continue to cover the daily rebate for inpatients. Many times, we have not withdrawn support from private healthcare providers by virtue of upgrading the scheme. They will still apply. The private healthcare providers will still continue to function. To sanction compliance with payment deadlines, Section 13 of the Bill seeks to amend the Act to rationalise the penalty for late payments of the standard or matching contributions. The Act provides for a penalty of five times the amount contributed. However, the Bill proposes to sanction a penalty of 25 per cent of the contribution. In the current Act, if you are supposed to pay Kshs500 and you default, you will pay Kshs500 times five, namely, Kshs2,500. However, this Bill proposes The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}