BHUBANESWAR: The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) provides comprehensive health care facilities for the Central government employees and pensioners and their dependents residing in CGHS covered cities. Pensioners in the city alleged that several reputed private hospitals here do not provide cashless treatment facilities to the beneficiaries.
There are five CGHS wellness centres in Odisha including three in Bhubaneswar. “The Central government pensioners pay between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1 lakh at the time of retirement to avail CGHS facilities. But the authorities looking after this scheme cannot streamline the cashless treatment facilities,” said Loknath Mishra, an office bearer of the All India Pensioners Association.
He said some reputed private hospitals here have opted out from CGHS due to non-revision of CGHS rates which were fixed during 2014 and non-payment of their dues in time by the CGHS authorities. Patients complained of lack of basic amenities at the CGHS Wellness centres and non-payment of their dues in time, he added.
“During last one year, beneficiaries needed to pay the amount to the hospital upfront and applied for it to be reimbursed through the CGHS. Authorities are raising several objections while paying part of the amount after six months from the date of submission of the bill. This is difficult for those who do not have the funds,” said Mishra.
Another beneficiary Tapan Nayak said CGHS has a rate card fixed in 2014 for all diagnostic tests, procedures and medical treatment and the reimbursement is provided in accordance with it. “Now the cost of the treatment has increased. When we submit the bill for reimbursement, the authorities reimburse a portion of the bill. We request the government to review the 2014 CGHS rate chart,” he added.
BP Panda, additional director, CGHS Bhubaneswar, said there was some problem from the hospital side in claiming the amount from CGHS. It continued for three to four months. “Now we have sorted it out,” he added.
On changing the rate chart, Panda said he is not the right authority to comment on this. “It is a pan India affair,” he added.
