63 hospitals penalised; 77 show cause notices issued ;14 hospitals de-empanelled
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Acting on the reports and complaints of discrepancies regarding the implementation of AB-Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna (SSBY), the State Anti Fraud Unit have issued 77 show-cause Notices to 63 erring Hospitals.
Disclosing this here today, the Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that SAFU was directed to actively monitor, pursue any instance of fraud/irregularity observed under the AB-SSBY and take stringent action on every erring entity. He said that Chief Executive Officer, SHA, Amit Kumar, IAS who is Chairman of SAFU Committee informed that 77 Show Cause notices have been issued so far to the hospitals and penalty amount Rs 27,67,358 has been recovered from various hospitals, 14 hospitals have been de-empanelled and 9 hospitals have been temporarily suspended while 24 hospitals have been issued warning letters. About 7 hospitals have also been issued advisories.
Giving details about major discrepancies made by hospitals, Balbir Singh Sidhu said that State SAFU team have cracked wrong referral cases, money taken cases from beneficiaries for medicines and treatment by the empanelled hospitals, claiming money for ICU wards whereas the patient was admitted in the general ward, claiming money for the bilateral surgical procedures whereas the unilateral procedure was performed, denial of cashless treatment by the empanelled hospital to the beneficiaries and more than one surgical package claimed during a single hospitalization.
To avail the easy access of secondary and tertiary treatment services under the SSBY, the Minister said that Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has also established the DAFU (District Anti Fraud Unit) in all districts to check these types of deceits. He said that DAFU has been directed to take immediate action, if any health establishment under ABSSBY is found to indulge in fraudulent means. He said that after a thorough investigation, concerned DAFU puts up the case to the State Anti Fraud Unit for further action.
“To reduce the financial burden of people, Punjab Government is vigorously working to cover all patients and around 828 hospitals have been empanelled across the State,” he said.
He said that State Government has also established District Grievances Redressal Committees for redressal of grievances of beneficiaries.
February 25,2021
