Are CGHS new hospital rates from October 2025 fair for beneficiaries?

News and Updates
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1

I came across the latest update from the Government about CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) new rates, which officially came into effect from October 13, 2025. The revision includes city-wise hospital tariffs, accreditation-based charges, and other procedural costs under CGHS-empanelled hospitals.

While it’s good to see an update after a long time, I’m wondering whether these new CGHS hospital rates will actually make healthcare more accessible or if they’ll end up increasing the out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries. Many reports suggest that rates have gone up significantly in metro cities, especially for private hospital treatments.

On the other hand, hospitals have long argued that old rates were unsustainable and didn’t match current medical inflation. So, maybe this change could help improve the availability and quality of CGHS treatment across India.

But here’s what I’m curious about
Will these new rates balance affordability with service quality, or will government employees and pensioners end up paying more in the long run?

Has anyone here checked how these city-wise revised CGHS tariffs are impacting hospitals in their area? Would love to hear real experiences or insights.

2

That’s a great point, and yes this CGHS rate revision was long overdue. The last major update happened years ago, and hospitals have been struggling with outdated reimbursement slabs.

Here’s what’s happening with the new CGHS hospital tariff revision (Oct 2025):

  • City-wise differentiation: Rates now vary by metro, non-metro, and smaller cities to match cost of living.
  • Accreditation impact: NABH-accredited hospitals can charge slightly more due to higher quality standards.
  • Better coverage: Some new diagnostic and procedural categories have been added for transparency.
  • Concern: Beneficiaries in private hospitals might still face balance billing if hospitals charge beyond CGHS-approved rates.

So, in short while this revision makes the scheme more realistic and hospital-friendly, beneficiaries must stay aware of the approved rate lists before admission to avoid surprise bills.

Overall, it’s a positive move for the healthcare ecosystem, but the government should ensure strict enforcement of CGHS-approved rates to protect beneficiaries.