By Kemi Olatunde

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The Director-General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), Dr Abiodun Oyeneyin, has commended the state Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his landmark achievements in the health sector, particularly in the area of health insurance provision for the people of the state.

Oyeneyin gave the commendation while sensitising local government workers during an event held in Akure, the state capital.

He stated that the governor had facilitated health insurance coverage for residents through the Abiyamo Scheme, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (Ilera Loro Scheme), and the ORANGE Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), which caters for both the formal and informal sectors.

According to him, the ORANGHIS scheme for retirees has already commenced in the state, noting that efforts were ongoing to bring a larger percentage of retirees on board.

He further explained that the Commission had been mandated to ensure health insurance coverage for all residents, including public servants, informal sector workers, private sector employees, and the vulnerable.

He noted that ORANGHIS was designed specifically for civil servants and political office holders, stating, “Access to care commenced in December 2022.”

The Director-General disclosed that three Third-Party Administrators (TPAs), United Healthcare, LifeWorth Healthcare, and International Healthcare Management Services (IHMS), had been engaged to support the implementation of the scheme.

To ensure the smooth running of the programme, Oyeneyin said the Commission had put in place measures such as the monthly dispatch of capitation lists to providers, prompt payment to Healthcare Providers (HCPs) for both capitation and fee-for-service claims, continuous quality improvement of healthcare services, timely issuance of authorisation codes by TPAs, ongoing sensitisation of beneficiaries, and enforcement of the policy that enrolees are not to pay for any covered services.

He emphasised the need for local government workers to be aware of the monthly premium remitted to the Commission, disaggregating the 1.8 per cent contribution as 1.2 per cent from the employer and 0.6 per cent from the employee totalling 3 per cent of the gross salary.

He also revealed that desk officers would be stationed in all Local Government Areas to ensure a seamless process in the implementation of ORANGHIS.

Also speaking, the Director of Business Development and Client Relations, Mrs Aderonke Ibitoye, stated that enrolees had the right to choose their preferred primary healthcare provider.

She added that where necessary, there was provision for a change of provider once a year.

Ibitoye noted that enrolees could also access care at any ODCHC-accredited provider aside from their primary provider in emergency situations, and had the right to proper referral.

She urged beneficiaries to report any unsatisfactory services received from HCPs to the TPA and/or the ODCHC. According to her, “Requests should get to the TPA within 24 hours, and within 48 hours in emergency cases. Requests should be made through phone calls and WhatsApp, using the dedicated numbers of the TPAs or the requisite departments in ODCHC.”

While calling on residents to embrace health insurance, Ibitoye explained that it guarantees financial protection against medical expenses and promotes a healthier workforce.

“It encourages preventive care and early detection of illness, thereby improving overall health outcomes,” she added.

Meanwhile, a medical outreach was organised at the event by the ODCHC for members of the workers’ union, during which 96 persons benefitted from free medical health checks.