The Murang’a County government is set to receive the much needed payments for claims owed to its public health facilities following negotiations between Governor Irungu Kang’ata and management of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The payment of the pending bills by the authority is expected to ease months of pressure caused by delayed reimbursements.
The breakthrough came after a meeting between Governor Kang’ata and SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi on Thursday, where the two parties reviewed pending payments for medical services already provided to patients covered under the National Health Insurance Framework.
The county government has been pursuing a total claim of Sh327 million, with SHA acknowledging an outstanding balance of Sh207 million and committing to releasing part of the funds immediately.
Under the agreement reached, SHA will disburse Sh47 million by January 14, with the remaining balance to be paid at a later date through a phased approach.
Governor Kang’ata noted the funds are meant to cover services offered to insured patients in Murang’a’s public hospitals that have continued to operate despite mounting financial constraints.
He noted that the delayed payments have severely affected the county’s ability to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines and medical supplies.
Kang’ata further observed that hospitals have been forced to stretch limited resources as they continue to attend to patients even as reimbursements lag behind.
“Our health facilities cannot function effectively without a steady flow of resources,” the governor said, adding, “This money will help us restock drugs and ensure that patients receive the care they deserve.” ”.
In addition to settling hospital service bills, SHA also committed to releasing Sh11.3 million within a week to cater for last expense benefits for 113 households enrolled under Kang’ataCare, a county-run programme that offers free health insurance cover to vulnerable families.
Kang’ataCare currently supports more than 40,000 vulnerable households across Murang’a County.
The governor described the programme as a crucial safety net, particularly for poor families who would otherwise struggle to meet medical costs.
He noted that timely reimbursements are essential to sustain the programme and to protect families from financial distress during times of illness or bereavement.
Kang’ata further thanked Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for facilitating the meeting, saying his involvement helped fast-track discussions that had stalled for months.
He added that stronger coordination between national and county governments is necessary to resolve persistent challenges in health financing.
As Murang’a awaits the release of the first tranche of funds, health workers and patients alike remain hopeful that the agreement will lead to more consistent reimbursements in the future.
Kang’ata remarked that the commitment by SHA offers cautious optimism that service delivery will stabilize even as talks continue over the remaining balance owed.
Dr. Mwangangi commended the Murang’a county government’s effort in sponsoring vulnerable households to access UHC.
She assured that all claims made by health facilities in the county will be paid progressively upon completion of verification.
The meeting emphasized the need for facilities to improve claims documentation, adherence to clinical guidelines and case management protocols.
It was established that several documentation gaps were noted, including missing/unfilled claim forms, incomplete discharge summaries, missing itemized invoices or time-barred claims.
SHA officials and the county administration agreed to conduct targeted facility clinics and continue process improvements to improve efficiency, transparency and turnaround times.
By Bernard Munyao
