How to Get Your Hospital Empanelled Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

Getting empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY opens your hospital to over 55 crore potential patients with guaranteed government-backed payments. The empanelment process is straightforward if you meet the eligibility criteria and prepare your documentation correctly. This guide walks you through every step, from checking eligibility to receiving your first PM-JAY patient.

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, ensure your hospital meets these minimum requirements set by the National Health Authority (NHA):

Criteria	Requirement
Minimum Bed Count	10 inpatient beds (relaxed to 5 for some states and specialities)
Registration	Registered under the Clinical Establishments Act (CEA) 2010 or state equivalent
Staffing	24/7 availability of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff
Infrastructure	OT (for surgical packages), pharmacy, diagnostic lab (in-house or tied up)
Biomedical Waste	Valid Biomedical Waste Management authorisation under BMW Rules 2016
Fire Safety	Fire NOC from local fire department
Building Compliance	Structural stability certificate or building completion certificate

Note for Smaller Facilities

Day-care centres, eye hospitals, and dental clinics can also apply for empanelment with fewer beds if they offer specific day-care packages under HBP 2.2. Check the NHA guidelines for your speciality.

Documents Required

Prepare the following documents before starting the online application. Having these ready will prevent delays during the verification stage.

•Hospital registration certificate under CEA 2010 or state equivalent
•PAN card of the hospital or trust/company
•GST registration certificate (if applicable)
•Fire safety NOC from the local fire department
•Biomedical waste management authorisation certificate
•List of doctors with their registration numbers (state medical council)
•List of available medical equipment and infrastructure
•Bank account details (cancelled cheque or bank letter)
•Photographs of the hospital (exterior, wards, OT, lab, pharmacy)
•Building completion certificate or structural stability certificate
•Affidavit declaring compliance with NHA guidelines

Step-by-Step Empanelment Process

The entire empanelment process is managed through the NHA's online portal. Here is the step-by-step procedure:

Register on the Portal

Visit hospitals.pmjay.gov.in and create an account using your hospital details. You will need a valid email address and mobile number. After registration, you will receive login credentials.

Fill the Online Application

Log in and complete the empanelment application form. Provide hospital details, infrastructure information, list of specialities you want to offer, and upload all required documents. Select the specific Health Benefit Packages (HBPs) your hospital can provide.

District-Level Verification

After submission, the District Implementation Unit (DIU) reviews your application for completeness. They verify the documents and may request additional information or corrections. This typically takes 7 to 15 days.

Field Inspection

A team from the State Health Agency (SHA) or District Implementation Unit conducts a physical inspection of your hospital. They verify infrastructure, bed count, staffing, equipment, and compliance with safety standards. The inspection is scored against a standardised checklist.

State-Level Approval

Based on the inspection report, the State Health Agency (SHA) approves or rejects the empanelment application. If approved, you receive an empanelment certificate with a unique Hospital Identification Number (HIN).

TMS Onboarding

After approval, you are given access to the Transaction Management System (TMS). NHA conducts training sessions for your staff on how to use TMS for patient verification, pre-authorisation, and claim submission.

Timeline: What to Expect

The complete empanelment process typically takes 30 to 60 days from application submission to approval. Here is a typical breakdown:

Stage	Duration
Online application and document upload	1-3 days
District-level document verification	7-15 days
Field inspection scheduling and visit	7-15 days
Inspection report submission	3-7 days
State-level review and approval	7-15 days
TMS onboarding and training	3-7 days

Common Rejection Reasons (and How to Avoid Them)

Many hospitals face rejection on their first attempt due to avoidable errors. Here are the most common reasons and how to prevent them:

Incomplete or expired documents

Double-check every document before uploading. Ensure Fire NOC, BMW certificate, and registration are current and not expired.

Insufficient bed count

Ensure you meet the minimum bed requirement for your category. If you have fewer than 10 beds, check if your speciality qualifies for a relaxation.

Missing or unregistered doctors

All doctors must have valid state medical council registration. Upload their registration numbers along with the application.

Infrastructure gaps identified during inspection

Conduct a self-audit before applying. Ensure OT, pharmacy, lab, and emergency services match what you have declared in the application.

Mismatch between application and ground reality

Do not overstate your capabilities. Only select HBP packages that your hospital can genuinely deliver.

Fire safety or biomedical waste non-compliance

Obtain Fire NOC and BMW authorisation before starting the application process. These are non-negotiable requirements.

Post-Empanelment: Getting Ready for Patients

Once empanelled, there are a few essential steps to ensure a smooth start:

✓Train your front-desk staff on BIS (Beneficiary Identification System) for patient verification
✓Designate a Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra (PMAM) or Ayushman Mitra at your hospital
✓Set up TMS workstations with biometric devices for Aadhaar verification
✓Create internal SOPs for PM-JAY patient flow — from admission to discharge to claim filing
✓Display the Ayushman Bharat empanelment certificate and helpline number prominently
✓Integrate PM-JAY patient tracking into your clinic management system

How Zospital Streamlines Your PM-JAY Workflow

After empanelment, the real challenge begins: managing PM-JAY patients alongside your regular patients without drowning in paperwork. Zospital CRM helps by providing:

Unified Patient Dashboard

See all your patients — PM-JAY, insured, and self-pay — in one dashboard. Filter by claim type for quick reporting.

PM-JAY Patient Tagging

Tag patients as Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries at registration. The tag persists across all visits and invoices.

Digital Document Storage

Attach pre-authorisation letters, discharge summaries, and claim documents directly to patient records. No more paper files.

Automated Follow-ups

Set follow-up reminders for PM-JAY patients via WhatsApp. Improve post-discharge compliance and patient satisfaction.

Revenue Tracking

Track PM-JAY revenue separately from other payment sources. Get clear reports on pending claims and settled amounts.