State puts caps on rates of diagnostic tests

The state health department on Tuesday capped the rates of diagnostic tests used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, following complaints of overcharging by various private hospitals and diagnostic labs.

An order issued by the department said the rates have been slashed by nearly half.

As per the revised rates, a CT/ HRCT chest scan, which is used to detect water pouches in lungs of moderate to severely ill Covid-19 patients, will now cost Rs 2,100.Earlier, labs were charging about Rs 4,000-5,000 per scan.

Similarly, IL-6, a blood test to trace the severity of the Covid infection, which used to cost up to Rs 2600, has been capped at Rs 1,000. D-Dimer, another important lab investigation to check formation of blood clots, will cost Rs 450, while an LDH test, to check severity of infection, will require Rs 250.

Diagnostic labs were charging almost Rs1,200 for D-Dimer and Rs 450 for LDH tests earlier.

Other tests to check inflammation in the body, such as CRP, Procalcitonin and Ferritin will cost Rs 350, Rs 1500 and Rs 300, respectively.

“Suspected or confirmed Covid-19

patients require to get investigated for HRCT chest and other lab investigations such as IL-6, D-Dimer, LDH, CRP, Procalcitonin, Ferritin. After taking cost if reagents and consumables used in these diagnostic tests, the state government has limited the maximum charges to be levied on lab investigations required for the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19 patients and even those who have recovered,” read the order. Since most of these are blood tests where home collection is possible, the state has allowed to charge an extra amount of Rs 200 per home visit, irrespective of the number of samples collected, to cover the expenses incurred for transportation, kits and manpower.

“These rates are not applicable for CT scan centres providing services to health department under public private partnership,” read the order.

Dr Santosh Kumar, director, Times PathLabs Private Lab, said, “Prices have been slashed to almost half at a time when cost of testing kits and reagents used to conduct these tests have increased in the market due to increase in the demand. The new price can affect the quality of tests a little bit as the margin for providing the best service has been cut down.”