Embattled former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Sylvester Mensah has finally been granted bail following hours of intense interrogation at the headquarters of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
According to PeaceFM's Yaw Obeng-Manu who was stationed at the BNI premises since the former NHIA Boss' arrest, Mr Mensah spent well over eight hours at the hands of security operatives in assisting them in gathering information on suspected issues of false claims by some ten medical facilities.
However the mode of treatment meted out to Mr. Mensah a known activist of the National Democratic Congress by the BNI, drew angry sympathizers to the headquarters of the institution. Among those present to show their solidarity were the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Afotey Agbo, Hon. Richard Mawuli Quashigah and Nii Amasah Namoale, Members of Parliament for Keta constituency and La Dade-Kotopon respectively.
The former NHIA Chief Executive tendered himself to the BNI on the New Year Day, January 1, after seven armed BNI operatives stormed his residence at Tse Addo near Trade Fair in Accra the previous night (31st December).
Peacefmonline.com sources say Mr. Mensah was not home when the armed men invaded his residence, but the security operatives nonetheless proceeded to search his house and manhandled his security man.
It is still unclear what his charges are and if his arrest had anything to do with a fraudulent case being investigated by national security.
However, Peacefmonline can confirm investigations into the issue of false claims by some 10 suspected medical facilities which has already resulted in the arrest of five other officials at the NHIA headquarters with three of them being prepared for court to be remanded whilst the other two have been granted bail, was started by the BNI a couple of months ago.
The BNI also picked up 17 directors and deputy directors of the Authority in connection with the matter.
Peacefmonline is reliably informed that investigations began six months ago at the instance of President John Mahama.
It is believed the BNI is also investigating how tariffs for providers are calculated, vetted and the components of the membership and financial management.
According to reliable sources, some of the areas of interest to the BNI include:
1. The Accreditation/credentialing process: What processes a health facility goes through to become a service provider of the NHIA.
2. Provider tariffs: How tariffs for providers are calculated and what tariffs apply to the various provider levels under the NHIS.
3. Claims: How claims are vetted/processed. What ingredients go into claims vetting and how monies are paid to providers after claims vetting, operation of the NHIS Claims Processing Centres etc
4. Membership and financial management
As reported earlier by Peacefmonline.com, there has been an intensified interaction between the NHIA and BNI within the past few weeks, with various NHIA directors and managers briefing the BNI on their roles, targets and work processes.
Aside the interactions, some healthcare providers have had visits from the BNI to allow them look into their books in respect of how claims from the provider end are processed before they are submitted to the NHIA for vetting.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email:[email protected]
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