The government has issued a fresh set of instructions for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries and empanelled hospitals. The Ministry of Defence has notified implementation of revised CGHS rates for Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) empanelled healthcare organisations, effective 15 December 2025.
These changes form part of a larger push in 2025 to streamline reimbursement rates, improve service delivery for pensioners and serving government employees, and ensure hospitals comply with updated standards.
What the new govt order says on CGHS guidelines
According to the order issued on December 5, 2025:
All existing agreements (MoAs) with empanelled private hospitals will stand cancelled at midnight on 15 December 2025.
This means hospitals must re-apply digitally to continue offering services under CGHS/ECHS.
Healthcare organisations must re-register using the online Hospital Empanelment Module.
A revised memorandum of agreement must be signed within 90 days of implementation.
Hospitals need to submit an undertaking before 15 December 2025, confirming that they agree to the new rates and conditions.
If the hospital fails to submit the undertaking, it will be automatically de-panelled.
These instructions have been circulated to all regional centres, defence establishments, and ECHS nodal offices across Army, Navy and Air Force formations.
Why this change in CGHS rules matters
The revision of CGHS rates has been a long-standing demand from both beneficiaries and hospitals. Many empanelled hospitals had complained that older reimbursement rates were not in line with rising medical costs.
On the other hand, beneficiaries, especially pensioners, wanted clearer billing norms, predictable costs, and better accountability when services were denied.
The revised structure aims to ensure uniformity and transparency, reduce disputes on pricing, improve digital processing for claims, and encourage hospitals to comply with updated service standards.
2025 has seen several CGHS-related updates
To make the story natural and contextual, here is a quick look at some key CGHS changes seen in 2025:
Cashless treatment for pensioners expanded — more procedures and cardiac/oncology-related treatments were brought under cashless facility.
Paperless authorisation strengthened — the referral system moved further online to reduce delays.
Higher penalty norms for hospitals — empanelled facilities were warned against denial of services; repeated violations could now lead to long-term blacklisting.
Tele-consultation services widened — post-pandemic digital consultations have continued, especially for chronic illness follow-up.
Updated room rent and procedure rates — revised rates for surgeries, diagnostics, dialysis, ICU charges, and room rent packages were introduced to align with private sector norms.
Overall, 2025 has been a year of tightening compliance, modernising systems and improving hospital-beneficiary coordination.
What hospitals need to do now
Hospitals have been given clear instructions:
-Log in to the empanelment portal
-Submit documents and accept the revised terms
-Sign fresh agreements within 90 days
Not doing so means automatic de-panelment, cutting off access to lakhs of CGHS and ECHS beneficiaries.
What CGHS beneficiaries should know
For government employees, pensioners, and ex-servicemen, this means:
Medical services will continue, but some hospitals may drop off the panel if they don’t renew.
Beneficiaries may see improved availability of updated treatment packages.
Cashless and reimbursement processes are expected to become smoother with updated agreements.
However, for a short window, beneficiaries may experience service disruptions if certain private hospitals delay renewal.
Summing up…
With healthcare needs rising, especially for ageing pensioners, the government’s move to refresh CGHS pricing and agreements seems aimed at improving service quality while keeping costs controlled. The success of these changes now depends on how quickly hospitals comply with renewal formalities and how well authorities monitor implementation on the ground.