MEDISEP: More hospitals to be empanelled; government directs contract company to speed up the process

The Kerala government has directed the Oriental Insurance Company to expedite the process of empanelment of hospitals under the MEDISEP insurance scheme. While some hospitals have withdrawn from the scheme, a few others have been newly empanelled. 894 private hospitals and 290 government hospitals have been empanelled until now. Kozhikode tops the list, empanelling 121 hospitals across both sectors, followed by Malappuram (111) and Thrissur (96). 

Patients who have undergone treatment, including dialysis, at hospitals that have withdrawn from the scheme may need to transfer to empanelled hospitals to access MEDISEP benefits. The process of empanelling hospitals should be expedited. Meanwhile, the company said that more hospitals would join the scheme within a week. 

10 conditions added
10 more health emergencies, including getting struck by lightning and snake bite, have been included in the list of diseases that would be reimbursed for getting emergency treatment at non-empanelled hospitals. Earlier, this advantage was available only for road accidents, heart attack and stroke. Room rent of up to Rs 5000 would be available under this scheme. Additionally, Rs 2000 will be allowed for daily room rent in pay wards at government hospitals. The order states that knee and hip replacement surgeries performed at private hospitals may be reimbursed. Previously, these surgeries were reimbursed only when performed in government hospitals. 

One-time registration can be completed on the insurance portal for dialysis and chemotherapy, which are required on a regular basis. Reimbursement is available for these treatments done at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and JIPMER that are not empanelled. 
MEDISEP toll-free number – 1800 425 0437, 1800 425 1857

Blindness: Main injection dropped
The intravitreal injection given for treating age related manicular degeneration has been dropped from MEDISEP coverage. In the first stage of MEDISEP, Rs 16,500 was set as the injection coverage rate. Up to six doses of injection were covered under the scheme for a patient. However, some patients may require up to 10 doses. This injection is also included in the central government’s medical insurance schemes.

Dr Devin Prabhakar, state president of qualified private medical practitioners, urged the government to reverse its decision to remove this injection from the list of emergency medical services eligible for reimbursement, noting that it is a condition that can affect the elderly at any time. Vision cannot be restored if these injections are not administered at the right time.