Accident victims in Maharashtra to receive cashless treatment up to Rs 1 lakh

Mumbai | The Maharashtra government on Friday decided to extend cashless treatment up to Rs 1 lakh for accident victims in empanelled and other emergency hospitals.

Chairing a review meeting, Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar directed officials to ensure that accident victims get timely and cashless treatment up to Rs 1 lakh.

He warned that action would be taken against anyone found violating the health scheme.

Abitkar said, “The number of empanelled hospitals under the scheme will be increased from 1,792 to 4,180. This process would be carried out transparently through committees chaired by district collectors.”

A study committee has been formed to consider increasing the number of procedures covered, revising rates, including costly treatments like organ transplants, and incorporating primary healthcare services into the scheme, Abitkar said.

He directed the committee to submit its report within a month.

“To assist the public, a separate mobile app will be developed to provide information on hospitals under the scheme, bed availability, and to register complaints,” Abitkar said.

Each empanelled hospital should organise a health camp every month and treat at least five patients under the cashless scheme, he said. Elected representatives should be included in these camps and the events should be publicised in advance, the minister said.

“To accelerate the distribution of Ayushman (Bharat) cards, the government will involve ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ration shop owners and citizen service centres. The honorarium for these workers will also be increased," he added.

Abitkar said nearly Rs 1,300 crore has been disbursed to hospitals since March and assured that necessary funds would be released as needed. “The implementation of this scheme must be completely transparent. Any kind of malpractice will not be tolerated,” he warned.