Final deadline for CGHS hospitals: Comply by April 30 or lose empanelment | India News
New Delhi: The Center has given a final window to private hospitals to be on the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) panel, extending the deadline for mandatory enrollment formalities till April 30, 2026, making it clear that no further extension will be granted.An office memorandum issued by Director, CGHS, Dr Satish YH on March 28 allowed hospitals to sign their Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to complete the process within the new deadline. The extension comes from the initial cut-off of March 31, after several hospitals identified technical hurdles in the newly launched HEM 2.0 portal – the government’s digital platform meant to streamline empanelment by moving applications and approvals online.While the transition is aimed at improving transparency, it has slowed submissions. At the same time, the government has drawn a hard line: Hospitals that fail to comply by April 30 will be delisted from May 1, making them ineligible to treat CGHS patients or raise claims, requiring fresh applications for re-admission.Enrollment is tied to direct payment – only hospitals on the CGHS panel can treat beneficiaries and raise claims, delays or errors in the process directly hit both patient access and hospital cash flow.Once listed, claims are processed within a stipulated time frame, officials said, adding that settlement usually takes up to 90 days, with delays mainly from queries or documentation gaps. The official also pointed to the revised CGHS rates in October 2025 and existing provisions to penalize hospitals for denial or delay of treatment.However, this official view contrasts with the reaction from the ground. Patient groups say delays and access problems persist, reflecting deep systemic gaps. “CGHS beneficiaries today are caught in a system characterized by delays, unequal access and weak accountability,” said TK Damodaran, general secretary of the CGHS Beneficiary Welfare Association of India, adding that complaints often remain unresolved and disparities in care persist.Hospitals, meanwhile, indicated financial pressure. “Delays in CGHS payments – often extending over three to six months – put significant pressure on the cash flow of hospitals, especially for smaller facilities,” said Dr Ashish Chowdhury, Managing Director, Aakash Healthcare. He added that while care delivery remains uninterrupted, current reimbursement rates do not fully reflect rising costs, making realistic adjustments critical for timely payment and sustainability.The order acknowledged that portal-related issues contributed to the missed deadline but clarified that this is the last extension. For millions of CGHS beneficiaries dependent on private hospitals, any large-scale de-panelization could directly disrupt access to cashless treatment in cities.
