Nagpur: Fearing backlash and harassment by political parties, private hospitals have admitted all walk-in Covid patients as per the 80:20 formula levying capped charges fixed through the controversial GR of August 31, 2020. Also, many patients are retrospectively claiming benefits of capped rates without carrying a referral slip.
Members of Vidarbha Hospitals’ Association (VHA) said capped rates don’t apply to these patients under the prevailing situation where government hospitals have plenty of beds. As per the GR, private hospitals have to treat 80% Covid patients at capped rates referred by the administration while regular fee can be charged from the remaining 20%. But, NMC hasn’t been referring any patient now, they said.
In its letter dated December 9, VHA has citied clause 10 and 15 of the GR which clearly states that “only those patients referred by the municipal corporations/district collectors” shall be admitted against the 80 reserved beds and civic auditors are empowered to audit bills of only referral patients.
A widely circulated audio clip by a political activist has now created doubts in the minds of gullible relatives of patients who seemed to be taken for a ride regarding capping of Covid treatment charges.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Jalaj Sharma told TOI that NMC avoids referring any patient to a specific hospital as it may amount to promoting it. “We just inform citizens about the availability of beds in a hospital nearest to them. The decision of admission has to be taken by the patient,” he said.
VHA claimed that almost all the currently admitted patients are walk-ins and not referred by the city or district administration.
OCHRI director and VHA convener Dr Anup Marar said technically people should be sensitized about the GR. “The NMC hasn’t replied to VHA’s letter regarding the issue. VHA is fighting and the case is in court. As per the norms, patients referred by a competent authority are eligible for capped rates. The audit must be done for only those patients who have been referred by the administration for admission in regulated beds. Bills of walk-in patients are being audited and the government is still asking for 80:20 status,” he said.
Dr Tushar Gawad, director (administration) at Alexis Multispeciality Hospital, said generally patients are not aware about the GR guidelines and capped rates hence for their benefit we have displayed them at prominent places in our hospital. “In the interest of patients during this ongoing pandemic, we are complying with the capped rates even for walk-in patients. If hospital billing is as per the government prescribed capping, Covid-19 treatment comes at a very reasonable cost to the patient,” he said, adding, a list of Covid-19 beds under the 80:20 plan has been provided to the NMC auditor.
“The NMC auditor is auditing all the bills as per the mandate given by the authorities,” he said. However, he added that ideally a referral mechanism must be in place for government-regulated beds.