Chandigarh: After the suspension of all treatment under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) by state’s empanelled private hospitals for non-payment of treatment fees under the scheme the Government of Punjab have got in touch with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Mohfw) to discuss the delayed payments to private hospitals under the PMJAY. The suspension of all treatment has been announced by Private Hospital and Nursing Home Association (PHANA), Punjab and state chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). They claim unresolved payments worth Rs 600 crore were pending for the last six months.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the state health agency (SHA) and hospitals at the time of empanelment states that the payment for each case must be completed within 15 days of a patient’s discharge. For every payment that remains pending after 15 days, the agency has to pay an interest of 1 per cent. Punjab had integrated its state health insurance scheme with AB-PMJAY in August 2019, christening it as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana (AB PM-JAY MMSBY). The scheme provides eligible beneficiaries with an insurance of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. It enables cashless treatment across government and private empanelled hospitals in India.
