Govt Cracks Down on Sneaky Hospital Fees: Standard Billing System Implemented

In a pioneering initiative, the Indian government has introduced the Standardized Hospital Billing System (SHBS) to reduce variations in healthcare expenses and enhance transparency in private and public hospitals. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Union Health Ministry have come together to design this initiative, which requires hospitals to issue itemized bills with breakup of charges on room rent, consultations, surgery, diagnostics, medicines, and consumables.

 

Key features are standard pricing for routine procedures, clear cost decomposition, and integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for real-time tracking and authentication. A regulator will monitor compliance to ensure ethical billing. Hospitals will also need to produce bills in readable formats in English or local languages.

 

The system will minimize overcharging, foster greater patient confidence, and simplify health insurance claims. Smaller hospitals might struggle to upgrade facilities to a compliance level. 

 

Source: eHealth Magazine