The Government on Tuesday expanded cashless treatment facilities for the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries as it brought AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and JIPMER Puducherry under the CGHS ambit.
A memorandum of agreement (MoA) to this effect was signed between the three medical institutions and the CGHS under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the presence of Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan here. On May 20, MoAs were signed between the CGHS and the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences located in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh.
“The extension of patient-care facilities at AIIMS-New Delhi, PGIMER-Chandigarh and JIPMER-Puducherry to the CGHS beneficiaries on a cashless basis will be particularly beneficial for the pensioner beneficiaries of the CGHS. It eliminates the need for them to submit individual reimbursement claims and follow up for approvals,” Bhushan said.
With this new initiative, the CGHS beneficiaries will have direct access to state-of-the-art treatment facilities at these medical institutions, without the hassle of making upfront payments and seeking reimbursements from the CGHS.
The streamlined process will save time, reduce paperwork and expedite the settlement of individual claims, Bhushan said.
“Previously, the CGHS pensioner beneficiaries availing treatment at these institutions were required to make payments upfront and claim reimbursement later from the CGHS,” he said and appreciated the development and highlighted that the CGHS is a significant service-oriented vertical of the health ministry through which existing and retired employees can avail medical services. “The government aims to expand the number of hospitals empanelled under the CGHS to provide excellent tertiary-care facilities aligned with the rising requirements of the patients,” Bhushan said.
He also noted that the agreement will help expand the reach of the CGHS services across the country, allowing the beneficiaries to avail the CGHS facilities at the institutes of national importance (INIs) in their respective states. Additionally, the CGHS has revised certain rates of treatment and medical care, further facilitating access to treatment facilities for patients, Bhushan said.