3 Things Ayushman Bharat stalled in Jharkhand, tiger prey base, and AC temperatures
Jun 12, 2025
Join Shubham Tigga, a reporter for The Indian Express who covers Jharkhand, as he explains the hurdles faced in rolling out the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in the state. Nikhil Ghanekar, also from The Indian Express and a wildlife expert, highlights the alarming decline in prey species crucial for sustaining India's tiger population. The discussion shifts to the government’s proposal to regulate air conditioner temperatures, aiming to promote energy conservation and reduce strain on the power grid.
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Hybrid Funding Model in Jharkhand
- Jharkhand's Ayushman Bharat scheme operates in hybrid mode, with claims up to ₹1 lakh by insurance and beyond by state reimbursement.
- Recent state expansion covers more families with increased coverage up to ₹15 lakh per year, reaching most of Jharkhand's population.
AI Flags Disrupt Hospital Payments
- Over ₹190 crore payments to hospitals in Jharkhand are pending, with many hospitals freezing payments due to fraud investigations.
- AI-based fraud detection flags some minor errors as fraud, causing payment delays even for genuine claims.
Surgeon Describes Payment Crisis
- A senior surgeon in Ranchi said 75% of his hospital revenue depends on Ayushman Bharat reimbursements.
- Due to delayed payments since February, he hasn't paid staff salaries since March and may stop Ayushman services.