Madhya Pradesh Private Hospitals to Boycott Ayushman Bharat from October 8 Over Payment Delays

Indore | आशीष नेमा

Private Hospitals Announce Indefinite Boycott of Ayushman Bharat Scheme

Private hospitals in Madhya Pradesh are escalating their protest against the government regarding services provided under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In Indore, the Indian Medical Association, Madhya Pradesh Nursing Home Association, and United Private Hospital Directors Association announced an indefinite boycott of the scheme starting from October 8 during a joint press conference.

Hospital administrators have issued a clear ultimatum: if their pending demands are not met with written solutions by the stipulated date, they will be compelled to take this drastic step. During the press conference, Dr. Vishal Singh Baghel, state president of the United Private Hospital Directors Association, highlighted that private hospitals prioritize patient treatment, bearing the entire cost themselves.

He explained that despite treating patients, they face months of waiting to receive government payments for these services. Dr. Baghel emphasized that the hospital administration does not seek confrontation with the government but desires a practical system that ensures timely payments and a clear, simplified claims process.

Concerns Over Payment Deductions and Procedural Obstacles

Dr. Sunil Barod expressed grave concern over claim rejections and payment deductions occurring even after pre-authorization approvals. He noted that deductions made after package confirmation during treatment are causing significant financial losses to hospitals.

The key demands raised by the organizations include:

• Abolishing the mandatory National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation.
• Reviewing current package rates.
• Ensuring prompt settlement of pending claims.

Furthermore, they advocated for establishing a transparent appeal system for cases stalled due to technical issues on the portal. Hospital representatives clarified that they support actions taken against fraud within the scheme. However, they believe it is unjust to withhold payments for actual treatments based solely on procedural errors.

Support from Local Hospitals and Threat of Delhi March

Dr. Vikas Dabkara, the district president of Indore, stated that local hospitals are fully supporting this state-wide decision. If the government fails to address their issues in a timely manner, the doctors threaten to march to Delhi with a thousand ambulances.

The organizations clarified that their ultimate goal is not to shut down the Ayushman Bharat scheme but to make it financially viable, ensuring that cashless treatment remains accessible to needy patients without interruption.