CGHS Package Rates To Be Revised, Health Ministry Simplifies Referral Process

In a major development, the Union Health Ministry has revised the Central Government Health Scheme or CGHS package rates for all beneficiaries. Also, the Ministry is simplifying the referral process under it. According to an official statement, this will benefit the employees of the Central government.

With this, the Outpatient Department (OPD) rates have been increased to Rs 350. Earlier, it was just Rs 150. Also, Inpatient Department (IPD) consultation fee has been increased by Rs 50. Earlier it was Rs 300 and now the fees will be Rs 350. Similarly, the charges for the intensive care unit (ICU) services have been fixed at Rs 5,400. This will include accommodation for all ward entitlements.

Hospital room rent has also been revised 

Room rent in hospitals has also witnessed a revision. For CGHS holders, the rent has now been fixed at Rs 1,500 for the general room, which was earlier Rs 1,000. Similarly, rent for a semi-private ward has been increased to Rs 3,000 from Rs 2,000 and that of the private room has been increased to Rs 4,500. Earlier, the rent of the private room was Rs 3,000.

The move will lead to the government incurring an additional expense ranging from Rs 240 crore to Rs 300 crore. Also, the referral process under the CGHS has also been simplified.

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Earlier, an in-person visit of the CGHS beneficiary to the CGHS Wellness Centre was mandatory to be referred to a hospital. In order to make this process easier, the government has allowed a CGHS beneficiary to send a representative with the documents to the wellness centre to get referred to a hospital.

The beneficiary can be referred to a hospital by a medical officer after checking the documents. A CGHS beneficiary can also get a referral through a video call.