VHA Nagpur: Hosps refunded Rs22L, but Covid bills worth crores still pending – ET HealthWorld
Nagpur: After social workers and politicians raised issue of overcharging patients during the Covid-19 second wave, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had penalized some private hospitals who eventually refunded the excessive bill amount. Now, according to Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA), hundreds of hospitals are yet to receive payment from patients who defaulted on Covid treatment bills and the amount runs into crores.
Dr Ashok Arbat, chairman of the Vidarbha Hospital Association, said that of the more than 140 Covid hospitals, only six have till date submitted details of pending dues and the amount is Rs2 crore. “It means the comprehensive figure is going to be astonishingly high,” he said.
VHA, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Nagpur branch and the NMC representatives have formed a committee to deal with the excessive billing issue. More than 50% of the 614 excessive bill complaints lodged with the NMC were found improper. The civic body has disregarded these complaints while 25 complainants have withdrawn their plea.
According to VHA convener Dr Anup Marar, till date, 69 hospitals in the city have refunded Rs22 lakh to the patients. “But who will take responsibility for clearing outstanding bills of hospitals from defaulter patients?” he said.
He demanded that the defaulters should be individually called to settle the payment compeletely under the same laws that were applied to hospitals.
Dr Sanjay Deotale, president of Nagpur IMA, said that many hospitals were pressurised to forgo balance amount. “Many received only minimal payment as authorities had warned us not to seek full advance at the time of admission. At the time of discharge or death of a patient, the so-called social workers and politicians would pressurize us to reduce or waive off the bill amount. We received no help from NMC or any authorities during that time,” he said.
Nagpur IMA secretary Dr Sachin Gathe and VHA secretary Dr Alok Umre said that since authorities had taken proactive steps to address complaints of excessive bills, they should similarly address the issue of non-payments to hospitals. “NMC should be impartial and render justice to both parties,” said Dr Gathe.
What pvt hospitals claim
– Excessive bill complaints issue was highlighted a lot during Covid-19
– Of the 614 complaints received, NMC has already disregarded 386
– 25 complaints withdrawn by complaints
– NMC had directed 136 hospitals to refund excess bill amount
– 69 hospitals refunded around Rs22 lakh
– 67 hospitals in process of refunding, committee getting it finalized
– More than 140 Covid hospitals are yet to get payment for pending bills
– Of them, pending dues of only six come to around Rs2 crore
– The outstanding amount may be quite high
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