Procedure for payment and reimbursement of medical expenses under ECHS

No.22A(10)/2010/US(WE)/D(Res)Nol-VIII

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

(Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare)

New Delhi, the 14th February 2014

To

Managing Director

Central Organisation,

ECHS New Delhi-10

Subject: Procedure for payment and reimbursement of medial expenses under ECHS: Processing of bills by Bill Processing Agency (BPA)

Sir,

1. Further to Gol letter No. 24(8)/03/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 19 Dec

2003 and 22A(10)/10/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 23 Feb 2012 and 05 Nov 2012.

2. I am directed to convey the sanction of the Government to extend the On-Line bill processing by the Bill Processing Agency (BPA) to under mentioned Regional Centres w.e.f. 1st April 2014.

(a) Bangalore.

(b) Chennai.

(c) Coimbatore.

(d) Dehradun.

(e) Jabalpur.

(f) Jammu.

(g) Mumbai.

(h) Nagpur.

(i) Patna.

(j) Allahabad.

(k) Ahmedabad.

(I) Ambala.

(m)Bareilly.

(n) Delhi(II).

(o) Guwahati.

(p) Hisar.

(q) Ranchi.

(r) Visakhapatanam.

3. One dedicated broadband Internet circuit {2Mbps(1:1)} and one standard 2Mbps broadband connection for each of the Regional Centres processing bills on line is sanctioned.

4. Procedure for Bill payment as authorised vide Govt letter 22A(10)110/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 23 Feb 2012 and 05 Nov 2012 will be followed by all Regional Centres and Polyclinic. All other contents of Govt letter mentioned in this para remain unchanged.

5. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their U.O. No.33(07)/2011-FP dated 02-12-2013.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(H.K. Mallick )

Under Secretary to the Govt of India

Source:http://www.desw.gov.in/sites/upload_files/desw/files/pdf/US-WE-14-Feb-2014.pdf

REFUND OF CONTRIBUTION MADE BY PRE 1996 RETIREES

REFUND OF CONTRIBUTION MADE BY PRE 1996 RETIREES

Appx A

(Ref to Para 3(a) of C&L Sec SN No

13/49717-C/AG/ECHS dt 21 Feb 14)

REFUND OF CONTRIBUTION MADE BY PRE 1996 RETIREES

1. Though pre 1996 retirees were exempted from making contribution for becoming members of ECHS vide Hon’ble Supreme Court Order on Writ Petition (Civil) No 210 of 1999 dt 22 Aug 2006, however there are no instrs from the Govt regarding refund of ECHS contribution in r/o pre Jan 1996 retirees who had already made the contribution prior to the Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Contempt petition in this regards filed by Reid Defence Officers Association vide (C) No 16 of 2007 in WP (C) No 210/1999 was dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 03 Nov 2008.

2. However, the case for refund of ECHS contribution for pre 1996 retirees who became ECHS member by paying ECHS contribution has been taken up with MoD since 20 May 2010 by Central Org ECHS. MoD had intimated that it has been decided to examine the case after Cabinet decision on the recovery of excess amount of NPA granted to retired Armed Forces doctors is available. Since the NPA issue has now been settled, Do ESW has again been requested for issuing favourable instructions.

Source:http://echs.gov.in/images/pdf/ops/ops100.pdf

EX-SERVICEMEN CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH SCHEME ECHS FAQ’s – GENERAL

Q1. What is the Ex Service Men Contributory Health Scheme?
 
   Ans. ECHS was authorised by Government of India on 30 Dec 2002, and has been introduced from 01 April 2003. It is a publicly funded Medicare scheme for those who are ex-servicemen and pensioners & their eligible dependants, and will provide medical care through out-patient treatment at 227 Polyclinics all over India, and in-patient hospitalization & treatment through Military Hospitals and out-sourced Civil Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers at all these 227 locations, which will be empanelled for the purpose. Treatment/hospitalization in Service Hospitals will be available to ECHS members, subject to availability of speciality, medical staff and bed space.

Q2. Is ECHS only for army servicemen only?

   Ans. This medical facility is for Ex-servicemen only, who have served in Army/Navy/Air force/Indian Coast Guard/Special Frontier Force.

Irregularities in Medical Treatment

Press Information Bureau
Government of India

Irregularities in Medical Treatment

   In a special audit drive undertaken by all the Principal Controllers of Defence Accounts (PCsDA) to examine the bill processing procedures of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), PCDA, Western Command had raised observations relating to excess payment to ECHS empanelled hospitals amounting to Rs.15 crores. All the observations raised by the PCDA, Western Command were thoroughly analysed by Regional Centre, Chandigarh and it was noticed that most of the observations raised were due to incorrect interpretation of the policies. Wherever observations of the Controller of Defence Accounts were conceded to, the overpayments have been duly deducted from the concerned hospitals and suitable warnings issued to them.

Functioning of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 574

ANSWERED ON 09.12.2013

FUNCTIONING OF ECHS

574 . Shri KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

   (a) whether any service of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics is being outsourced;

   (b) if so, the details thereof, service-wise;