NHA Increases Health Benefits Package Rates Significantly

The National Health Authority (NHA) has recently modified the Health Benefit Package (HBP) Rates, which is operated under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). According to the government, rates of some packages were increased by 20%-400%, under the Health Benefit Package (HBP 2.2). A fresh medical management package for black fungus has also been added. The HBP 2.2 can be implemented from November, this year.

New modifications under HBP

The government has modified the rates under these categories - radiation oncology procedures, medical management procedures as for dengue, acute febrile illness, etc., surgical package treatment for black fungus, heart catheterization, PDA closure, arthrodesis, cholecystectomy, and appendicectomy, etc. The rate for ICU with ventilators has increased by 100%, rates for ICU without ventilators increased by 136%, rates for HDU increased by 22%. In addition to that, the routine ward rate has also increased by 17%.

At present, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has 1669 treatment procedures. Among these, 1080 procedures are surgical, 588 medical, and 1 is an unspecified package.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare commented, "The revised version of Health Benefit Packages (HBP 2.2) will strengthen the impaneled hospitals to provide better healthcare services to the beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY. The revised packages for oncology will enhance cancer care for the beneficiaries in the country. The addition of new packages related to black fungus will be a huge relief to the beneficiaries. I am sure that the rationalized HBP will further improve the uptake of scheme in private hospitals leading to reduced Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for the beneficiaries."

Initially, the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY was launched in 2018, with 1393 packages and provided health coverage for secondary, tertiary, and daycare procedures for the treatment of diseases and medical conditions.