Government urges Kenyans to verify SHA hospital bills following rising cases of fake charges and fraud alerts

The government has called on Kenyans to be extra vigilant when reviewing their hospital bills under the new Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme to prevent fraudulent charges and protect public funds.

In a statement released on Wednesday, SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi urged members of the public to cross-check their visit details each time they access healthcare services at facilities contracted under the scheme.

Dr. Mwangangi explained that every hospital visit should be accurately recorded in the SHA system on the exact date of service. Once logged, patients will receive a confirmation message on their registered mobile number containing details of the visit.

“Members are encouraged to review the message immediately to verify that the information captured matches the services received,” Mwangangi said.

She noted that the verification step is crucial in preventing fraudulent billing, double entries, and other irregularities that could undermine the sustainability of the universal healthcare scheme.

SHA further reminded members to carefully review their hospital bills before leaving any medical facility to ensure that only the services received are billed and that charges align with the official SHA rates.

According to the authority, patients should not be forced to pay any additional costs resulting from delays or errors by healthcare providers when entering visit details or billing information.

For medical procedures requiring pre-authorization, SHA advised members to confirm that necessary approvals are obtained before treatment, except in emergencies requiring immediate care.

The authority also directed members to report any billing discrepancies or suspected fraud immediately to the healthcare facility or through SHA’s toll-free number 147.

“These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, reduce system abuse, and ensure that healthcare funds are used efficiently,” Dr. Mwangangi stated.

The appeal comes a month after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) received over 1,100 files from SHA and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) for investigation. The cases involved individuals and organizations suspected of engaging in healthcare fraud and attempts to exploit the national health system.

The government says it remains committed to rooting out corruption in the health sector and ensuring that every Kenyan benefits from affordable and quality medical care under the Social Health Authority framework.