CGHS hospital deadline: Comply by April 30 or lose staffing

NEW DELHI: The Center has given private hospitals a last window to stay in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) group, extending the deadline for compulsory admission procedures to April 30, 2026, while making it clear that it will not be extended further.An office memorandum issued by CGHS director Dr Satheesh YH on March 28 allowed the hospital to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to complete the process before the new deadline. The postponement came after multiple hospitals cited technical barriers to the newly launched HEM 2.0 portal, which began earlier on March 31. HEM 2.0 is the government’s digital platform designed to simplify provisioning by making transfer applications and approvals online.While the shift was intended to increase transparency, it slowed down submissions. Meanwhile, the government has laid out a hard line: Hospitals that fail to comply by April 30 will be disbanded from May 1, making them ineligible to treat CGHS patients or make claims, and re-entry will require a new application.Access is directly linked to payment—only hospitals in the CGHS group can treat beneficiaries and file claims, making delays or errors in the process directly impacting patient access and hospital cash flow.Once identified, claims are processed within a stipulated timeframe, officials said, noting that resolution often takes up to 90 days, with delays mostly due to inquiries or documentation deficiencies. The official also pointed to the revised CGHS rates in October 2025 and the existing provisions to penalize hospitals for refusing or delaying treatment.However, this official view contrasts sharply with feedback on the ground. Patient groups say delays and access problems persist, reflecting deeper systemic disparities. “CGHS beneficiaries today are trapped in a system characterized by delays, uneven access and weak accountability,” said TK Damodaran, secretary-general of the Indian CGHS Beneficiaries Welfare Association. He noted that complaints often remain unresolved and disparities in care persist.Meanwhile, hospitals also cited financial pressures. Dr Aashish Chaudhry, managing director, Aakash Healthcare, said: “Delays in CGHS payments often exceed three to six months, which puts huge pressure on the cash flow of hospitals, especially for smaller institutions.” He added that while care remains uninterrupted, current reimbursement rates do not fully reflect rising costs, so timely payments and realistic adjustments are critical for sustainability.The order acknowledged that issues related to the portal contributed to the missed deadline, but made clear that this was the final extension. For the hundreds of thousands of CGHS beneficiaries who depend on private hospitals, any large-scale disinvestment could directly disrupt access to cashless treatment in cities.