SHILLONG, AUG 7: The state government on Saturday announced that the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) will be extending full coverage for COVID-19 treatment from August 15, so that people do not have to worry about out of pocket expenses.
“The government has taken this very bold step (to address) in as far as the cost for COVID-19 treatment in different private hospitals is concerned by enhancing the MHIS facilities,” Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Health Prestone Tynsong told reporters.
He said earlier, the MHIS benefits cover for only 60 percent of the treatment cost while the remaining 40 percent is being paid by the patients from their own pockets.
Taking this into consideration, the MHIS team under the leadership of the Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War, a proposal to enhance the MHIS coverage for COVID-19 treatment was brought before the state government, which accordingly had given its nod.
Tynsong informed that the package is divided into five categories. Under the first category, the MHIS has fixed Rs 7,000 per day for general ward without oxygen requirement, Rs 11,500 per day for general ward with oxygen requirement (2nd category), Rs 14,000 for ICU/HDU without ventilator (3rd category), Rs 18,000 for ICU with non-invasive ventilator (4th category) and Rs 20,000 for ICU with invasive ventilator (5th category).
“These rates approved by the government will be implemented from August 15 onwards,” he said while informing that a notification will immediately be issued for compliance by all the private hospitals in the state.
According to him, the MHIS team already has a mechanism in place to address the grievances related to cost of treatment faced by the patients.
When asked, Dr War informed that the coverage extended by the MHIS is Rs 5 lakh per household and for each patient the ceiling is upto Rs 2.8 lakh.
“That is why we have come with those rates and the question of out of pocket expenses will not arise,” he said while admitting that that MHIS will now be providing full coverage for COVID-19 treatment.
On the other hand, the state government has also decided to back up private hospitals including mission hospitals for ramping up the ICU as well as oxygen plants in order to effectively tackle the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The government has decided to back up private hospitals in the state as we need to ramp up the ICU after seeing the trend of today’s positivity rate is quite high and that it may keep increasing. Therefore, we have decided to work together with the private hospitals to ensure there is no shortage of ICU facilities and beds for treating covid patients,” Tynsong said.
The deputy chief minister also informed that the deputy commissioners have been asked to hold consultation with all traditional heads for their support and cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.
“I will also have a meeting at my level with the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong as we really need to work jointly at the locality as well as village level,” he added.
By Our Reporter
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