42 hosps to stop cashless facility from Dec 1: VHA

Nagpur: Come December 1 and policyholders of three health insurance companies and their six third party administrators (TPAs) may not be able to use cashless treatment facility at 42 major hospitals in the district.

These hospitals, led by

Vidarbha Hospitals Association

(VHA), have adopted a tough stance against the three insurance companies and TPAs following de-empanelment of six hospitals.

The six hospitals had disagreed to accept the revised treatment charges, which they claimed, were reduced by 50% as compared to the previous year’s tariff.

Employee and consumer unions too have come out in support of these hospitals.

The employee union said in case the hospitals agree to the revised lower tariffs under cashless facility, there is possibility of many job losses.

Earlier this month, 20 big private hospitals, through VHA, had set November 18 as the deadline to reverse the de-empanelment of six hospitals and rollback the rate cuts.

By November 24, the number of hospitals joining the cause has more than doubled to 42.

In a press release, VHA president Dr Ashok Arbat said, “Soon, all the 160 member hospitals will be forced to join this agitation, if these companies do not mend their ways and value quality care by offering reasonable rates.”

Wockhardt, Orange City, KRIMS, Alexis, Meditrina, Care, Viveka, Suretech, Arogyam, Center Point, Midas, Ortho Relief, Hope, Icon, Lotus, Samarpan, Sengupta, Treat Me, Radiance, Keshav, Swasthyam, Crescent, Sushrut, Aureus, Getwell, East End, New Era, Asha and Platina among others have announced withdrawal of cashless facility for the beneficiaries of the three companies and 6 TPAs from December 1.

Ganesh Iyer, general secretary, Insurance Beneficiaries Association, said even if the hospitals agree to attend patients in such minimalistic package costs, which are inclusive of medicines, consumables and diagnostics, it will affect quality of treatment and complications may increase.

Prakash Shende, working president, Vidarbha Private Hospitals Employees Union, said hospitals will be forced to either reduce remuneration or retrench personnel, which will be detrimental to those already working in these hsopitals.

Iyer alleged, “Till date, hospitals were issuing prescriptions to patients and they used to get the medicines on cashless basis from hospital pharmacy so the relatives were aware of what was being procured and administered. If package rates are levied, they will be in the dark and hospitals, because of such low rates, will use substandard drugs.”