Maharashtra's state administration has issued a directive requiring private hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities to display fee schedules for their services in a visible location — in both Marathi and English — as a step toward reducing billing disputes and preventing facilities from charging beyond approved rates.

The state's public health department, through a Government Resolution released on Friday, directed authorities to pursue administrative and legal measures against any healthcare institution found in breach of the rule. The same document separately mandated that hospitals display the rates and facilities outlined under Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021, in a location and format clearly visible to all patients and visitors on the premises.

The directive states its aim as providing patients and their families with advance clarity on what treatment is likely to cost. Proponents argue that access to upfront cost information allows patients to budget for healthcare outlays, reducing the likelihood of disputes when invoices arrive.

Fee schedules are to be posted at noticeable, easy-to-find locations throughout hospital grounds, rendered in both Marathi and English, according to a news channel report. The Government Resolution states that any revision to charges is to be reflected in the displayed list without delay.

Under the resolution, healthcare facilities are additionally required to make service fees and treatment package pricing clearly available to patients as a way of handling complaints tied to billing. Front-line personnel at registration, enquiry, and billing points have been directed to walk patients and accompanying family members through the fee schedules and applicable charges on display, so that no confusion arises over what they will be asked to pay.

Healthcare facilities that accept overseas visitors holding medical or Ayush visas are required under the government resolution to post the dedicated pricing packages available to those patients in a visible manner.

The resolution further states that every body holding authority over the registration, oversight, and licensing of nursing homes is expected to carry out scheduled audits of adherence to Schedule III of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, 2021, and to pursue appropriate administrative or legal measures where any facility is found to be falling short of those standards.

Orders were issued to district civil surgeons, along with district and municipal health officers, directing them to pass the new guidance along to private hospitals and other medical establishments within their areas and to follow through on its rollout. The department noted that posting hospital service rates had already been a legal obligation. The current directive draws on an earlier set of instructions issued on 12 October by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.