Government orders clearing of CGHS bills to private hospitals

As private hospitals across the nation threatened to quit providing cashless care through the Central Government Group Health Scheme (CGHS), the government awoke from its slumber and on Tuesday mandated bill clearing within a month.

According to sources in the Union Health Ministry, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assessed the matter of about Rs 1,400 crore in unpaid CGHS dues and instructed staff to resolve them within a month. Officials report that there have been complaints about over 11 lakh unpaid bills for the past few months, prompting many hospitals with empanelled status to stop treating CGHS beneficiaries without using cash.

Read: CGHS Empanelled hospitals refuse cashless treatment as dues pile up

Minister instructed the health secretary, the director of the CGHS, and the CEO of the National Health Authority to provide a thorough report on the issue and possible solutions at the three-hour review meeting on Monday, the official said. He gave them the order to pay off all outstanding debts within a month and clear nine lakh outstanding CGHS bills within 15 days. In order to expedite the pending situation, the Health Minister also gave instructions for officials to boost the number of claim clearance officers. Thousands of small, medium and big hospitals are empanelled under the programme, the bulk of which have not been paid since last July. Fortis owes Rs 100 crore in debt, compared to Rs 200 crore owed by the Max Group. The Medanta hospital is also anticipating payment of over Rs 60 crore.

All Central Government employees, living or dead, and their dependents are covered by the CGHS. At most empanelled hospitals, including Max, Fortis, Medanta, etc., the OPD consultation fee for CGHS beneficiaries is Rs 150 per visit, while non-CGHS fees at the same hospitals range from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.

Read: CGHS Empanelled hospitals refuse cashless treatment as dues pile up