The Social Health Authority has temporarily reverted to the use of manual claims filling forms while the computerized Claims Management System works its way through teething problems. It was supposed to smoothen the claims process; however, the few setbacks encountered since August have delayed the transition into its fully digital operations. The new manual claim forms are stop-gaps that assist in the execution of the SHA's working out these issues on time for the planned October rollout of CMS.
None has gone live without hitches despite efforts to integrate several claims systems. Even a system developed by Savanna Informatics, which was the third after two earlier platforms failed, has proved vulnerable as healthcare providers cannot log in to process claims or even admit patients. Over 60% of the healthcare providers surveyed by SHA said they could not access the CMS and further dread the already strained healthcare system.
These unjustified reasons have caused frustrations among healthcare providers, patients, and unions. At least four public sector unions have issued threats to go on industrial action if the government does not intervene in the challenges. They claim that the transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund to SHA has brought confusion, delays in patient services, and reduced benefits earlier provided by NHIF while increasing worker salary deductions.