Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY-GJAY) to strengthen beneficiary support and ensure round-the-clock access to scheme-related services.
The directions were issued by CEO of the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS), Dr Brundha D, during a review meeting on the implementation of AB-PMJAY-GJAY and other health assurance schemes in private hospitals.
As part of the measures, all empanelled hospitals have been asked to establish 24×7 Ayushman Bharat help desks at prominent locations near their main entrances. The desks will be managed by Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras (PMAMs), who will assist beneficiaries with identification, registration, treatment-related information and other services.
Hospitals have also been directed to ensure adequate deployment of Arogya Mitras so that the help desks remain operational round the clock. Sample designs for the help desks were demonstrated during the meeting.
Deadline for ABDM integration
Dr Brundha directed all empanelled hospitals to integrate their Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), ABHA-based patient records, Healthcare Facility Registry and Health Professional Registry with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) software by August 31, 2026.
Hospitals failing to complete the integration within the stipulated deadline will face withholding of incentives payable under the Ayushman scheme. Continued non-compliance could also result in de-empanelment in the future, officials said.
The ABDM integration is expected to facilitate seamless access to patients’ digital health records. Under the system, patients will not need to carry physical medical files or previous reports when visiting another healthcare facility.
In case of referrals, treatment history, investigation reports and other relevant medical information can be transferred digitally between hospitals. Digital records of diagnostic procedures, including CT scans and MRI scans, will also be accessible through the system.
Hospitals asked to implement PM-RAHAT
The SHAS CEO also directed hospitals to ensure proper implementation of the Pradhan Mantri RAHAT (PM-RAHAT) scheme.
Under the scheme, victims of motor vehicle accidents who reach a designated hospital within 24 hours of the accident are entitled to cashless emergency treatment for up to seven days, subject to the prescribed guidelines. Each eligible accident victim can receive treatment worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh.
Hospitals were instructed to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the required emergency treatment without financial hardship.
They were also directed to provide free treatment to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) cardholders in accordance with the applicable guidelines. The hospitals were informed that bill submission for treatment provided under PM-RAHAT and the CAPF health scheme has been integrated with the Ayushman portal.
The review meeting focused on improving beneficiary experience, strengthening digital health infrastructure and ensuring that empanelled hospitals comply with the operational requirements of the various health assurance schemes.
Additional Secretary-cum-Joint Chief Executive Officer, SHAS, Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Director Dr Bishnu Prasad Mahapatra and other senior officials attended the meeting and briefed representatives of the empanelled hospitals on the implementation of the schemes.
