Delhi govt to engage agency for speedy implementation of Ayushman Bharat Yojana

New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) The Delhi government will soon engage an agency which will provide support for the speedy implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the national capital.

According to officials, the agency will be responsible for setting up state-level offices and deployment of staff, providing preauthorisation of procedures under the scheme.

"It will provide support to the State Health Authority about beneficiaries availing the scheme, claims processing and management.

"The agency will also be responsible for audit compliance, anti-fraud activities and supporting the local authorities in monitoring and evaluation related activities of scheme implementation," said an official. It will also be involved in call centre management and solving queries.

The government has floated a request for proposal, seeking bids from agencies providing such services.

According to officials, there are 6,54,041 eligible AB-PM-JAY Beneficiary Family Units and 6.08 lakh senior citizens under the Vay Vandana Scheme in Delhi.

The Delhi government has released more than Rs 7 crore towards claim payments to hospitals under its health insurance schemes, officials said, adding that more payments are in the pipeline.

Under the scheme, eligible families in Delhi will receive annual health coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh -- Rs 5 lakh from the Centre and an additional Rs 5 lakh as a top-up from the Delhi government.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides free and cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures, covering costs of medicines, diagnostic services, hospitalisation, ICU care, surgeries, and more. The eligible families get health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year. PTI SLB SLB NSD NSD