Central government will bring standard billing format

The central government is preparing to introduce a new standardized billing format to make the billing process transparent and uniform in hospitals, nursing homes and screening centers. In this new format it will be mandatory to give a detailed and clear details of the cost of treatment, which will prevent the arbitrariness of hospitals and disturbances in billing.

According to sources, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Ministry of Health are together preparing this format. It has been finalized by consulting the health sector experts, patient organizations and other stakeholders.

Patients will have these big benefits

• Transparency in billing: Patients will get a clear description of every expenditure on their treatment.

• Prevention of wrong charge: Irregularities in billing will be reduced, so that patients will be able to object to wrong fees.

• Ease of understanding: Now many times the bill is given a lump sum amount, which is not clear which fee has been charged. In the new format, patients will be able to understand every part of the bill.

These information will be included in the bill

1. Details related to medical procedure

• Room type and daily fare

• Doctor and expert consultation fee

• Surgery fee, surgeon fee, anesthesia fee

• Operation Theater Charge

• Daily check (blood test, X-ray, MRI etc.)

2. Description of medicines and consumables

• List, quantity, price, batch number and expiration date of distributed drugs

• Medical consumable items (syringes, gloves, catheters etc.)

• Nursing fee

3. Other necessary information

• Designation of doctors present

• Exemption or concessions

• Emergency contact and other important medical information

Will it change under the new rule?

• There will be a clear description of every fee.

• Patients will be able to object to unnecessary fees.

• There will be uniformity in the billing system, which will give patients the same experience in all hospitals.

This step of the government can prove to be a major change towards ensuring transparent billing in hospitals and protecting patients’ rights.