Source: ECHS
ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) empanelled hospitals are meant to give you cashless treatment without charging you separately for anything already covered in your approved treatment package. Yet many veterans still receive final bills with charges they should never have had to pay. This article lists seven billing mistakes empanelled hospitals commonly make, based on official ECHS rules, so you can check your own hospital bill with more confidence.
- Charging separately for blood sugar test strips — Some hospitals bill separately for glucometer strips when checking your blood sugar at the bedside. Under the billing rules that apply to package-rate treatment, the cost of a Random Blood Sugar test already includes the strip used for it. A hospital should not add a separate line item for the strip on top of the test charge.
- Charging separately for ECG leads or electrodes — ECG leads or electrodes are sometimes billed as an extra item after an ECG test. This is not correct, because the cost of these leads is already built into the approved charge for the ECG itself. A hospital charging you separately for leads or electrodes is charging you twice for the same test.
- Charging separately for ventilator consumables — If you or a family member needed a ventilator during treatment, the hospital may try to bill separately for tubing, filters, or other ventilator consumables. These items are meant to be included in the ICU or ventilator charge itself, not billed as extra.
- Charging for a service already inside your approved package — Every ECHS empanelled hospital signs an agreement that fixes the treatment package rate in advance. Once this package is approved, the hospital is not supposed to charge you for any service that is already part of it.
- Billing for a test or treatment that was never carried out — Official ECHS treatment rules are clear that no bill should be generated for a test or treatment that was never actually carried out on the patient. Always compare your discharge summary with the final bill to make sure every charged item was something you actually received.
- Billing hospital medicines beyond the seven-day limit — After you are discharged, a hospital is allowed to bill for medicines it issues to you only for up to seven days. Beyond that period, your medicines are meant to come from the ECHS dispensary instead of the hospital pharmacy.
- Asking you to pay directly instead of billing cashless — ECHS treatment at an empanelled hospital is meant to be cashless, with the hospital billing ECHS directly instead of asking you for money upfront. If a hospital asks you to pay and claim reimbursement later, raise this with your ECHS Polyclinic.
Knowing these seven billing mistakes can help you check your hospital bill more carefully and avoid paying for things you should not have to. Most billing errors happen due to oversight rather than deliberate wrongdoing, so a polite query at the billing desk often resolves the issue. If a hospital does not correct the charge, raise the matter with your ECHS Polyclinic without delay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What should I do if I am overcharged at an ECHS empanelled hospital?
A1. Raise the issue with the hospital billing desk first. If it is not resolved, report the overcharge to your ECHS Polyclinic, since empanelled hospitals cannot charge beyond the approved package rate.
Q2. Does ECHS treatment always have to be cashless at empanelled hospitals?
A2. Yes, treatment at empanelled hospitals is meant to be cashless, so hospitals should bill ECHS directly instead of asking beneficiaries to pay first and claim reimbursement later.
Q3. Can a hospital charge me for medicines after I am discharged?
A3. A hospital can bill for medicines it issues only up to seven days after discharge. After that, medicines should be collected from the ECHS dispensary, not billed by the hospital.
Q4. What if my discharge summary does not match my final bill?
A4. Compare both documents carefully and flag any mismatch to the billing desk. A bill listing a test or treatment you did not receive should never be paid without questioning it first.
Q5. Where can I check the official ECHS billing rules myself?
A5. You can visit the official ECHS website for treatment and billing guidelines, or ask your local ECHS Polyclinic for the current billing instructions that apply to your case.
Q6. Who do I contact if my complaint is not resolved by the hospital?
A6. You can escalate the matter to your ECHS Polyclinic or Regional Centre, which can take up unresolved billing disputes directly with the empanelled hospital.
Found this useful? Explore more helpful guides in our ECHS collection — tap here to browse.
