LIMIT OF POST FACTO APPROVAL AND VERIFICATION OF MEDICAL BILLS THROUGH CIVIL SURGEON DOUBLED: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA

Decision will be big relief for employees of Punjab government; settlement process for medical bills shortened

Chandigarh, July 13

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Finance Department has decided to double the limit for the post facto approval and verification of medical bills through civil surgeon to ensure quick settlement of medical bills of the employees of the Punjab Government. He said that this decision would empower all civil surgeons of the state to verify and give post facto approval to the medical bills up to Rs 1 lakh raised by the Punjab Government employees regarding their treatment at the private hospitals of Punjab and Chandigarh.

Disclosing this in a statement issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Finance Department has given approval to the proposal sent by the Health and Family Welfare Department in this regard keeping in view the problems being faced by the officials and employees of the state government during the settlement of their medical bills. He said that this would decision would further strengthen the decentralization by shortening the process of medical bills settlement, reimbursement and settlement of medical claims.

Divulging further, Harpal Singh Cheema said the Finance Department had authorized civil surgeons for approval and verification of medical bills of private hospitals up to Rs. 25000 in the year 2010, but since then no one bother to safeguard the employees interest by increasing this limit to meet the increase in the cost of the treatment. He said that after the formation of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government this limit was doubled to Rs. 50000 in May 2022 after a gap of 12 years, and the processing of medical bills above this limit was being done by the Director, Health and Family Welfare.

The Finance Minister said that despite doubling the extent of post facto approval and verification of medical bills through the Civil Surgeon last year, the state government employees were facing difficulties due to delay in settlement of medical bills of more than Rs. 50000 amid increasing pendency at the office of the Director, Health and Family Welfare.  He said that now by doubling this limit from Rs. 50000 rupees to Rs. 1 lakh rupees, the entire process will be accelerated.

Reiterating the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government to ensuring the welfare of its employees, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state government is making every possible effort to raise the standard of living of its employees besides providing every necessary facility at their work place. He appealed to the employees of the state to render their services with honesty, diligence and kindness and contribute their due in making this state a ‘Rangla Punjab’ again.