Oversight committee for NHI contracts never formed, Minister admits
A committee that should have been established years ago to assess what contactors/health service providers can charge the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme had never been formed until December last year.
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley made the shocking disclosure in the House of Assembly this week after being questioned by Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton.
For years, there have been accusations against health service providers about overcharging the National Health Insurance (NHI), which was established in 2015 while Skelton was the Health Minister in a prior administration. However, no study has been published that investigates these allegations.
Minister Wheatley explained that an independent consulting firm completed a review of the NHI system in March 2022, with key recommendations including an improvement of the statutory reserve of the fund and a review of the alliance agreement between NHI and the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA).
Critically, the review also recommended that the allocation of an annual $42 million subvention to the NHI be addressed. This concerned covering the BVIHSA’s operations and covering the costs of persons exempted from making contributions by regulations.
“The Ministry of Health and Social Development has recently recommissioned the Contract Management Committee to review the alliance agreement between NHI and the BVIHSA,” Minister Wheatley stated.
‘Confusing’ and contradictory
When pressed about his use of the word ‘recommissioned’, the Health Minister explained that the committee had never been formed before.
“The Contract Management Committee is a committee that was designed to evaluate what providers are allowed to charge and so forth,” Wheatley said. “It was never in place for a long time. Since taking office, I made sure – because it’s a very critical committee – that it was reinstated in December of 2023 and had a first meeting in January of 2024.”
Skelton responded: “You said it never existed and you say recommissioned. I don’t [understand] that’s where… that’s what confused me.”
“That committee should be in place by regulation,” Wheatley clarified. “It was never done as far as I know, but I made sure I got it in place in December, that committee. The particular committee that’s supposed to regulate what persons are allowed to charge.”
Meanwhile, Minister Wheatley told lawmakers the NHI had $17.26 million in liabilities, which included some $10.82 million of claims payable.
He said there were other recommendations arising from the review, but noted that the Ministry is still awaiting the submission of the report.
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The incompetence and willful ignorance elected into office is staggering as we the people suffer the fallout!
I am sorry but the only incompetence I see are with the voters of this Territory.
HOA thinks releasing this info under the cover of the Miami trial will reduce the voters reaction to yet more proof of their own representatives blatant dishonesty,
NHI SOLE purpose was to make every medical practitioner with their own practice RICH. The smooth criminal they ask to set up NHI made sure HIS PRACTICE made the most money. NHI SCHEME is the perfect name lol.
HOA has the neck to claim credit but no explanation as to why it wasn’t in position to protect the tax payer at the outset. How many new houses were built on the back of taxpayers contributions to the NHI.
Or is there again no accountability in this country? If you admit you did not do your job you should lose your job!
That should have been activity one. Once you know what people have been charged you would know what they should be charged. Either through malice or ignorance we failed from the start.
It still needs to be fixed though and fixed quickly.
You’all still trust Cousin Vinny? He always look like he just woke up from a nap. What going on here?
@over and under the hill he came just wake up or after his twentieth mixture in what we think is coffee. Sleepy but dru*j
Please let We The People know who is exempt from paying NHI contributions?
See parargraph “Critically, the review also recommended….. covering the costs of persons exempted from making contributions by regulations”.
Who is exempt from making NHI contributions?
To have retirees paying NHI when their payment is not salary. It’s a benefit; why are we made to pay it? And why should persons over 65 years of age have to pay this? Why isn’t there a system in place for those persons who don’t have full time jobs to pay. There are so many things wrong with this NHI mess. Jesus take the wheel
So the legislators don’t even read the law they have passed and make sure that it’s rules are implemented? Strupes. This is truly a country led by the ignorant and voted into office again by the ignorant. And there is no help for us…..
This, a lot of money, for a set of supposed doctors, that everything they have to go on google to search to give medication, they must bring good professional, they have a lot
Not me.
Skelton is right. The statement is not internally consistent. What Skelton should recall is that he appointed the committee and Irma and a new VIP government is why it went by the wayside. Pelt some big stone on their roof Skelly
No surprise here. the NHI was established by the former NDP to enrich family. X-ray at hospital broken. Guess where you have to go to get one?
It’s because of things like this we have so little to show for the billions of government revenue paid in and out since the 1980s.
That why we have such poor public services and the infrastructure is terrible.
It’s also why nearly everybody with a skill or qualification in the BVI comes from overseas.
The Territory has thrown its future away so a few people can enrich themselves from public funds. It’s a real shame. Oh well…
That guy vis like a chicken hawk , he got together with Andy and double tax the island people who are employees and worked bhonestly and left their employers who don’t pay vtheir fair share of taxes to the government untouched / so how can we respect anyone like that ? Now when you go to do the lab tests for the renewal of your driver’s license , you are told that they are not ACCEPTING your ( NHI CARD ) AT PEEBLES if you are over 65 years old , is this how the senior citizen are being treated ( and the other private medical institutions is taking the same NHI card •¿• WHAT IS REALL GOING ON ❓️
Cousin Vinny either asleep, drunk or don’t give a fack. Once again how can we trust him or the other members of the A$$ C!0wn Brigade, lead by S!0w W@nde A Who R U, to help us get this thing on track
I would like to ask the NHI a question? After paying my full contribution from the inception. Hardly ever use to the card locally. Am retired now. And when try to use the card I was told it’s block by the Institution. Does it make any sense to me to have worry about paying NHI when I have fully comprehensive insurance that only can use overseas. The government has to understand paying two separate insurance does not make any sense to persons who can’t afford the cost of living. Am looking advice if possible
Sadly NHI was not thought out when implemented. There should have been discussions with the medical supplying community prior to any implementation of NHI. Base pricing should have been negotiated and established. Obviously when NHI was activated we all saw what happened. Office visits that were $35 immediately increased as did all other fees. At the initial meetings held by government we were told seniors would not be charged nor would children up to the age of 18. That didn’t last long did it. Now we have to pay a percentage and the balance of payment is sent to NHI to be paid. It shouldn’t be a surprise that NHI is suffering financially. On top of all this if one needs further medical attention we are sent off island, to countries like Dominican Republic, Columbia, et… It is a “Catch 22” scenario. Read the book. You just keep running around in circles and nothing is ever solved.