Ayade To Launch Cross River Health Insurance May 28

Ahead of the May 28 official launch of Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (CRSHIS), industry experts have identified key areas of collaboration for effective take off and successful implementation of the scheme in the state.

At a three-day workshop aimed at improving the state’s readiness for the implementation of the scheme organised by the state Coordinator for United States Agency for International Development-Health Finance and Governance (USAID-HFG), Ibiam Agwu, in collaboration with Cross River State Insurance Agency, the organizers advised for the early enrollment of beneficiaries immediately after launch.

The workshop which took place at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, Calabar, also advocated for the expansion of the facility provider network from 72 Primary Health Care (PHC) to cover the 196 wards in the state.

Additionally, the workshop urged for full accreditation of 72 PHCs while provisional accreditation be accorded the remaining 124 PHCs including 18 general hospitals and 18 private health facilities to guarantee improved access to health care services.

Other recommendations included the ownership of advocacy by the state Insurance agency in the area of awareness and sensitization, claim management to be undertaken by Third Party Administrators (TPAs) consisting of medical team with no less than ten years of practice to be overseen by CRSHIS, enrollments of subscribers through multi-channel- agency and TPAs.

On the premium contribution and cost distribution, the workshop recommended, “an individual package of N750 per person per month including ID card and a family package of a father, mother and four children under 18 years of N45,000 per household per annum including ID cards.”

With nods from the labour union and the Nigeria Medical Association, participants recommended a,  “3.5 percent deduction from the basic salary of all civil servants and political appointees for a family package of the Ayadecare scheme,” while the ongoing “bidding process to select third party administrators be concluded before the launch date.

The state health insurance scheme, tagged, “Ayadecare,” will be launched on May 28 this year. The workshop was attended by key stakeholders including the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Bassey, Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Special Advisers to the Governor on Insurance, Chief Godwin Iyala, representative of Nigeria Medical Association, members of the organised labour, ministries and parastatals as well as other health insurance experts drawn from Calabar.

On its part, the USAID/HFG project pledged its commitment to support the build up to the launch process with two consultants which include an organizational development consultant and a health insurance operations expert.”