Termination of cashless diagnostics and treatment facilities by private hospitals to CGHS beneficieries: Rajya Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

RAJYA SABHA

ANSWERED ON-30.04.2013

(a) whether several major private hospitals have decided to stop providing cashless diagnostics and treatment facilities to CGHS beneficiaries due to payment related issues;

(b) if so, the reasons for delay in payment by CGHS; and

(c) the steps taken by Government to streamline the payment process of CGHS in order to avoid inconvenience to CGHS beneficiaries especially pensioners?

ANSWER

(a) Yes. One hospital in Delhi viz., Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute had stopped providing credit facility and therefore, empanelment of the hospital has been suspended w.e.f. 13.2.2013 till further orders. Two hospitals viz., Max Super-specialty Hospital and Fortis Escort’s Hospital, New Delhi opted out of CGHS empanelment on completion of their empanelment of two years. Frontier hospital, Chennai, B.P.Poddar Hospital & Research Centre, Kolkata and Sterling hospital, Ahmadabad have reported to have stopped extending credit facility to CGHS beneficiaries.

(b): There were delays in payment in CGHS in the last quarter of financial year due to piling up of cases on account of shortage of budget and expiry of agreement with the bill clearing agency i.e. UTI-ITSL, which processes the hospital bills and makes provisional payment to the private empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres.