The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced the expansion of cashless treatment facilities for beneficiaries under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The initiative, inspired by the successful implementation at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry, aims to include all AIIMS institutions across the country.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Ravichandra Vaddiraju sought details on the government’s plans and the current status of the scheme’s implementation. As part of this expansion, Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) have already been signed between CGHS and AIIMS institutions located in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bilaspur, Rajkot, Kalyani, Bhatinda, Bibinagar, Guwahati, Deoghar, and Mangalagiri. These agreements facilitate cashless treatment and investigation facilities for pensioner beneficiaries and other eligible categories of CGHS beneficiaries.
Key guidelines related to the treatment of CGHS pensioner beneficiaries and other entitled classes at these premier medical institutions include:
- Eligibility for cashless treatment is extended to CGHS pensioners and beneficiaries like ex-MPs, ex-Governors, former Judges of the Supreme Court of India, former Judges of High Courts, Freedom Fighters, etc., holding a valid CGHS card.
- AIIMS shall establish a special desk dedicated to CGHS beneficiaries to streamline the verification process.
- The validity of the CGHS card and the corresponding ward entitlement will be clearly printed on the CGHS card.
- The CGHS desk at AIIMS will verify card details online from the CGHS database in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- Bills, along with a copy of the CGHS card, will be submitted by AIIMS to the CGHS office for processing.
- AIIMS will create a separate bank account to receive reimbursements from CGHS, and payments will be credited expeditiously.