The Governor has made a new scheme – the West Bengal Health Scheme, 2008 – to provide better medical benefits to State Government employees and their families. The Scheme comes into force on a date decided by the State Government. The Scheme applies to employees and their beneficiaries, but enrolling in the Scheme is optional. If an employee chooses to enroll, they won’t receive the regular medical allowance, but they will get the benefits of this new scheme in addition to the West Bengal Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1964. Employees can choose to opt out of the Scheme at any time, but if they or their beneficiary has already received benefits, they can only opt out after five years. The Scheme started on 1st June 2009, and any employee who leaves the Scheme cannot enroll again.
Guidelines for receiving medical treatment and settlement of claims under the West Bengal Health Scheme, 2008 :-
- Receive treatment in an empanelled hospital / Government hospital, i.e. recognized hospitals under the Health Scheme.
- Show Health Scheme Identity Card while receiving medical treatment in recognized hospital/ diagnostic centre. Give a photo-copy of the Identity Card to the hospital/ diagnostic centre.
- Register address of the Head of Office/ Pension Sanctioning Authority including telephone number at the time of admission for indoor treatment.
- Inform your office within three days of commencement of indoor medical attendance and treatment.
- Check whether your identification number has been mentioned in the hospital bill.
- Check whether code no.s of all the procedures/ investigations have been mentioned in the bill.
- Check whether bill for surgical procedure has been furnished following package rate with code.
- In case of indoor treatment prefer claim for reimbursement within three months from the date of discharge.
- In case of O.P.D. treatment prefer claim for reimbursement within three months of every consultation or purchase of medicines, etc.
- Take permission of the West Bengal Health Scheme Authority before:-
(a) Human Organ Transplantation;
(b) Cochlear Implant Surgery;
(c) Implantation of Dual Chamber Pacemaker;
(d) Implantation of more than one Drug Eluting Stents;
(e) Implantation of more than two Stents;
(f) Implantation of AICD/ CRT with AICD;
(g) Implantation of Neuro implants, viz., Deep Brain Stimulator Implants, Intra- Thecal Pumps, Spinal Chord Stimulators;
(h) Digital Hearing Aid, etc. - Take permission of the West Bengal Health Scheme Authority before treatment in a Speciality hospital outside the State.
- In case of over-billing and/or unnecessary procedures if done by a Health Care Organisation, bring the same to the notice of the Hospital Authority within 15 days of discharge.
- For medical treatment of Government employee and their family members use the following Forms of Essentiality Certificates:-
(a) O.P.D. treatment under Clause-7 of the Health Scheme- Form D1
(b) Indoor treatment and related O.P.D. treatment under Clause-6 & 9 of the Health Scheme- Form D2
(c) Medical treatment done in non-empanelled hospital/ nursing home – Form D3. - For medical treatment of Government pensioners and their family members, use the following Forms of Essentiality Certificates:-
(a) O.P.D. treatment under Clause-7 of the Health Scheme- Form IV1
(b) Indoor treatment and related O.P.D. treatment under Clause-6 & 9 of the Health Scheme- Form IV2
(c) Medical treatment done in non-empanelled hospital/ nursing home – Form IV3.
After examining a claim under the Health Scheme the Sanctioning Authority should issue order sanctioning the maximum admissible amount as per approved rates. The G.O. should contain the following informations-
(1) Name of the Government employee/ pensioner with identification number,
(2) Name of the patient,
(3) Name of recognized Hospital under the Health Scheme with code no.
(4) Name of disease,
(5) Period of treatment,
(6) Package Code for surgical procedure.
While issuing an order of reimbursement the Sanctioning Authority should consider the following matters:-
(a) “Package” is applicable for surgery in empanelled private hospitals / nursing homes / non-empanelled private hospitals / nursing homes.
(b) Cost of medical treatment in Govt. Hospital, Local Bodies managed hospitals and aided institutions may be reimbursed adding bed rent, doctor’s visit, investigation charges, medicines and implants. Approved rate is the maximum ceiling.
(c) Cost of medical treatment done in speciality hospital outside the State may be reimbursed on actual basis.
(d) Air fare is not admissible under the Health Scheme.
(e) Mainly Cancer cases are considered as ‘Malignant diseases’ under Clause – 7 (1)(i) of the Health Scheme.
(f) Type-2 Diabetic Melitas is not considered as ‘Insulin-dependent Diabetes’ under Clause-7 (1)(iv) of the Health Scheme.
(g) Guidelines of F.D.memo nos. 797-F(MED) dt. 31-1-11, 3474-F dt. 11-5-2009 and provisions of the Health Scheme have been consulted.
(h) Guidelines of F.D. Notification No. 10539-F (MED), dt. 21-11-2011 have been consulted for medical treatment in non-empanelled pvt. Hospital / nursing home.