Question : Cashless Treatment in CGHS Empanelled Hospitals

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether a number of private hospitals empanelled under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) have given notices to stop providing cashless services to the CGHS beneficiaries due to accumulation of their dues and delays in payment thereof by the Government;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating actual amount of such dues and reasons for delay in the payments;

(c) whether the Government has also received request from Indian Medical Association for clearance of such dues, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps being taken by the Government to address this issue in a time bound manner to avoid inconvenience to the CGHS beneficiaries?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House




STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 91 FOR 7TH FEBRUARY, 2020


(a): One Hospital from Trivandrum has represented to this Ministry for early settlement of pending hospital bills. However, there are reports in the media that some organizations, which claim to represent private hospitals, have issued statements about pending hospital bills and likely disruption of credit facility.

(b) to (d): Settling the claims of hospitals for providing credit facility for the services given to CGHS pensioner beneficiaries is a continuous process. Bills submitted by the hospitals are cleared on first come, first served basis. There is always some time lag between the submission of the hospital bills and their actual payment. During current financial year, hospital bills amounting to ? 1000 crore have been cleared by CGHS so far. As on 03.02.2020, hospital bills worth ? 844 crore were pending. Government has allotted additional budget of ? 1000 crore for early settlement of the Hospital Credit Bills. A letter dated 20.12.2019 has been received from Indian Medical Association & Association of Health Care Providers for resolving the issue of unsettled hospital bills.

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