Our Projects

Micro-Health Insurance

In January 2007, Healing Fields concluded a three-year pilot – “Breaking the Cycle of Despair: Health care Financing Delivery Project” – in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to explore the viability and design of micro-insurance schemes in India. Based on rigorous analysis of rural, urban and tribal health needs assessments, Healing Fields, in association with HDFC CHUBB (now HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company), developed a unique micro-health insurance product called Pariwar Suraksha Bima (PSB) based on a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) model.

Healing Fields has played a pivotal role in developing end-to-end solutions and aligning diverse stakeholders to create the value chain necessary to deliver micro-health insurance services to the poor.

The pilot project involved the creation of a health education, financing and administration “ecosystem” for the poor. The ecosystem consisted of a community of people unable to afford treatment for primarily common yet dreaded diseases, private/public insurance companies, TPA, a group of secondary and tertiary care hospitals (providers), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) managed by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) or co-operatives.

The following impacts were achieved:

• During the three years of the pilot implementation, the loan taking rate to meet health care expenditure was reduced by 70% among the insured population.

• In the last three years of the pilot, the savings made by our members on health care expenditure was more than Rs. 26,000,000.

Health Education – Building Health Leaders/Champions

The shortage of professional health workers is one of the key components in the growing health care crisis in India. Recognizing the vital and transformative role that education and awareness can play, Healing Fields is building a network of “Leaders/Champions” who will serve as health educators in grassroots communities. These educators are empowered with knowledge related to health care, as well as the different programs available within their communities. Health educators are not health care providers, but are advocates for the community and agents of social change. The Health Education program emphasizes democratizing information and community management skills.

Health education provides a win-win solution for everyone from insurance companies and doctors to families and individuals, with benefits including: fewer occurrences of illnesses, reduced annual cost and decrease in the disease burden for the poor; lower claims ratio to insurer leading to economic viability and sustainability; improved productivity and raised earning capacity of the household; and value to all clients irrespective of percentage hospitalized.

Health Care Management Consulting/Medical Management

Healing Fields has extensive expertise in contracting with hospitals in urban, rural and tribal areas. Healing Fields has adopted a unique system of rating hospitals before empanelling them into networks. The rating protocol includes utilization and structural parameters, quality of services delivered, availability and qualifications of medical, paramedical and non-medical staff.

Healing Fields has direct experience working with the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) methodology. DRG is a provider payment system based on patient diagnosis to control health care costs. In addition, the DRG simplifies product administration and ensures transparency. This model has been pioneered by Healing Fields in India and is acknowledged as the first of its kind in the world by USAID and the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO).

Healing Fields has also developed innovative solutions for areas without hospital infrastructure, including the creation of “Nurse Manned Dispensaries” in remote tribal areas. This is the first and only kind of dispensary that is networked as part of an insurance health provider network.

Client Facilitation Services

Healing Fields has a strong focus on client-service delivery, and a thorough understanding that many clients need assistance through the process.