Dismissing reports that some private hospitals refuse to accept Central Governmental Health Scheme (CGHS) cards for cashless transactions because of non-reimbursement of dues by the government, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday that it would ensure that the CGHS-empanelled hospitals continued to extend cashless and credit facilities to the beneficiaries.
As per information received by it, most of the private hospitals continued to extend cashless facilities to the beneficiaries, the Ministry said in a statement here.
The clarification came after some private hospitals, under the banner of the Association of Healthcare Providers (India), withdrew cashless services to the CGHS beneficiaries from March 7, alleging long delays in payments.
“The delay in payments in the last quarter of the financial year, due to budgetary constraints, is not a new phenomenon, and the hospitals are aware of it. The Ministry has taken special steps, and the pendency is likely to be cleared within a week,” the statement said.
The CGHS had already invited bids for revision of package rates through a transparent tender process, the Ministry said. The last date for submission of bids was March 10. Measures were taken to resolve payment-related issues in the ensuing empanelment process.
