If you are a beneficiary of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), then this news is very comforting for you. The central government has made a big change for the patients undergoing treatment under CGHS. Now, hospitals will not need to upload geo-tagged photos of patients every day. The government has changed the rules for the In-Patient Department (IPD), which has given relief to both patients and hospitals.
Exemption given in the old rules, now there will be no problem
Earlier, it was necessary to upload geo-tagged photos of IPD patients daily. But now the government has removed this rule and said that this rule will not be applicable for the period from the old order to the date of the new order. This means that no action will be taken for not uploading photos during this period. This is a big relief for the hospitals, as it was becoming very difficult to follow the old rule.
What will hospitals have to do now
When the documents of patients whose cases were not uploaded earlier are uploaded on the TMS portal again, hospitals will have to attach a copy of the new order. This will prove that they have acted according to the new rules of the government.
What are the changes according to the new rules?
The government has laid down new rules for both IPD and OPD cases. Let us understand them in detail:
IPD cases
If the patient is referred and the referral is valid, no photo will be required.
If the patient is not referred
One photo will be required at the time of admission.
One photo will be required at the time of discharge.
If the admission is more than 7 days, an additional photo will have to be given every seventh day.
OPD cases
No photo is required.
Non-referral cases
For patients above 70 years of age.
For follow-up related to referrals, where no new referrals have been taken.
For bedridden patients, a screenshot of the video call will also be valid.
What are the rules for uploading photos?
The government has also laid down some guidelines for uploading photos so that there is transparency in the process:
The photo should be taken from a mobile or tablet that has an automatic geo-tagging facility.
The photo should not exceed 1 MB.
The photo must be uploaded in real time or within 24 hours.
Hospitals must keep local copies of all photos for at least 90 days to show during an audit.
What will happen if the new rules are not followed?
If a hospital does not follow these new rules, its payment under CGHS can be stopped or the claim can be rejected. These new guidelines have come into effect with immediate effect and will remain valid till further notice. This change is a big relief for both patients and hospitals, but it will be mandatory for everyone to submit the required documents as per the new rules.