Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Nagaland officials penalized 12 hospitals for breaking rules under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme. Health and Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak addressed the state Assembly on September 1 regarding the crackdown. Six hospitals faced sanctions under AB-PMJAY, and another six were hit for CMHIS violations.
These facilities received show-cause notices and were ordered to pay back patients. State authorities eventually de-empanelled the offending hospitals. Konyak noted that beneficiaries should only pay extra if they choose services outside the approved packages. He said, "Additional charges could be levied only for services outside the approved package and with the patient's consent."
The state currently has 64 hospitals signed up for AB-PMJAY. The program offers coverage up to Rs 5 lakh for about 2.88 lakh households, a notable jump from the 2.59 lakh households marked by the 2011 Census. Konyak emphasized that Aadhaar is vital for generating cards at hospitals. He urged better coverage for eligible residents.
The policy covers roughly 1,970 procedures across 25 specialities, focusing on secondary and tertiary care. It pays for dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, and minor surgeries. However, it ignores cosmetic work, dental care, and fertility services like IVF. Patients hit with unauthorized fees should report the incidents to the Nagaland Health Policy Scheme grievance cell. Investigators then look into the claims to determine if hospitals must issue refunds.
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