Uttar Pradesh is transforming its Ayushman Bharat ecosystem with a bold 30-day payment mandate for hospitals, backed by severe penalties for negligence. Health principal secretary Amit Mohan Prasad issued the orders after reviewing scheme performance across 75 districts.
The scheme, flagship of the NDA government, covers 40% of UP’s population but grappled with reimbursement backlogs totaling Rs 2,000 crore. Hospitals, especially in Tier-2 cities, were turning away patients fearing non-payment. The new protocol mandates pre-authorization for high-value treatments and post-discharge audits.
Care standards are non-negotiable: every patient gets a treatment charter outlining rights, with helpline numbers mandatory on bills. Random audits by third-party agencies will verify adherence, focusing on surgical outcomes and infection rates.
Tech upgrades include blockchain for tamper-proof records and mobile apps for instant claim filing. ‘From farm to operation theater, we’re closing every gap,’ stated CM Yogi Adityanath in a recent address.
Beneficiary stories underscore impact—a cancer survivor from Varanasi credited timely surgery to resolved payments. Industry bodies like APHMI pledge cooperation, eyeing doubled bed capacities.
As monsoon illnesses surge, these reforms arrive timely, potentially saving thousands of lives while boosting medical tourism in UP.