Andhra Pradesh reports penalties against 203 hospitals under healthcare scheme

Andhra Pradesh's NTR Vaidya Seva Trust has reported fines totalling ₹34.39 crore against 203 hospitals and disciplinary measures against 44 facilities over irregularities in its healthcare programme.

The figures were detailed in a release from the state's health department reported by The Hindu on October 11. They cover enforcement over the past two years, rather than a single day's action. Trust chief executive Dr Padmavathi submitted the report to Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav.

The disciplinary measures comprised 25 suspensions, payment stoppages affecting 13 hospitals, removal of five hospitals from the network and cancellation of recognition for one facility.

Complaints included charging beneficiaries for treatment that should have been free, denying cashless care, delaying treatment, failing to follow prescribed medical protocols and neglecting patient care. The trust investigated the complaints before taking action.

Officials examine hospital bills and requests for treatment authorisation to identify unusual patterns, excessive use of treatment packages and suspicious transactions. Their checks also seek to detect duplicate billing and altered medical records.

The trust is using artificial intelligence to speed up bill verification and make audits more consistent. A claim flagged by the system is not automatically deemed fraudulent. Disciplinary decisions require an investigation by district and state officials, examination of medical records and sufficient evidence.