In Haryana, Rs 450 crore of private hospitals treating patients under the Ayushman scheme is stuck with the government. IMA Haryana had warned to stop treatment from February 3 if the pending amount is not paid by February 2. Some demands were agreed upon in a meeting with the government on Monday evening, but the executive remained adamant at night.
Private hospitals in Haryana will not provide treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from 12 noon today. This decision has been taken in the late night online meeting of the executive of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Haryana.
Earlier, in a meeting of the Haryana government and the state representatives of IMA in Chandigarh late in the evening, an agreement was reached to make the payment till March 31 and not stop treatment. But now the doctors associated with IMA are demanding the pending payment first. Outgoing President of IMA Haryana Dr. Ajay Mahajan said that the government is only giving assurance of payment for three times. Earlier there was an agreement but now the executive is not ready for it.
Consensus was reached in the meeting with the Chief Principal Secretary
In a three-hour meeting with the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar in Chandigarh, it was agreed that the government will pay all the pending bills (till March 10) by March 31. Also, a separate provision of Rs 2500 crore will be made in the budget for next year. The government had assured the IMA that all the pending claim applications till now will be settled by February 28 by appointing additional doctors.
Khullar also assured that there will be no problem of funds in the future and the cases which are pending for years will be resolved. Regarding the cut on the amount of bills, it was agreed that there will be no cut in the bills approved by the specialist doctor. Outgoing President of IAM Dr. Ajay Mahajan, CEO of Ayushman Authority Sangeeta Tetarwal, ACS of Finance Department Anurag Rastogi and ACS of Health Department Sudhir Rajpal were present in the meeting.
These were agreed upon in the evening
-A team of specialist doctors will look into the claims related to medicine and pediatrics. Information about the cases which seem suspicious will be shared with the hospitals soon.
-If the claim amount has been reduced for any reason, then the hospital will provide detailed information about the reasons for it. Doctors will be retrained to inspect the claim.
-If the patient is not willing to get treatment under Ayushman, then he will get the option of treatment at his own expense.
-Hospitals will also get the option of second appeal for the claim. The claim amount will be paid within the stipulated time limit.
The government has paid 195 crores from January till now. An agreement has been reached on the demands. The pending amount will be paid by 31st. The flaws in the portal have been rectified. Discussion has been done regarding the pending cases. – Sangeeta Tetarwal, CEO, Ayushman Bharat.
There will be burden on government hospitals
If treatment is not done under the health insurance scheme in private hospitals, the burden on civil hospitals will increase. Ambala Cantt and City alone already have an OPD of 2000 to 2500. Now patients getting treatment from private hospitals will turn to civil hospitals.
Allegation: Deductions are also being made in delayed payments
Former IMA chief Ashok Sarwal said that whatever bills are sent by us under the Ayushman scheme, as per the rules, they should be paid within 15 days. If there is a delay in payment, there is a provision of interest. Even after this, the government does not pay them on time. Even the payments that are made are deducted. In such a situation, financial problems remain on the hospital operators.
Only 20 percent payment made, lakhs of rupees pending
IMA chief of Ambala Cantt Dr. Vivek Malhotra said that till now the hospitals have received only 20 to 25 percent payment from the government. Bills worth lakhs of rupees of the hospitals are pending. Due to this, IMA has decided to stop treatment.
