“Besides JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER has been selected as one of the centres to initiate this programme,” said Prof Vivek Lal, director, PGI. He added, “The e rupi mode of digital payment will be used to assess how much is being spent on investigations/tests and treatment. The idea is to understand the cost benefit and the investigations being done.”
Presently, there is no data available to assess how much is being spent on treatment and tests under Ayushman Bharat. “There are most of the empanelled hospitals, including both private and public, which serve bills to the government without any break-up of the cost of treatment and tests. This initiative can enable transparency,” said an official in the PGI administration.
The Government of India has launched Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which is a medical insurance scheme providing benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per family unit per annum to eligible beneficiaries. All public sector hospitals have been deemed empanelled under this scheme.
PGIMER had signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Health Agency for implementation of the scheme. All Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries are eligible to receive treatment free of cost for ailments covered under the scheme but within the limit/sub limit and the sum assured.
For treatment purposes, 1,395 packages have been identified and package rates have been approved by the National Health Agency. On completion of treatment, a claim for reimbursement is filed.