Is the Centre Urging Insurance Companies to Expedite Health Claims Settlements?
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Synopsis
In a decisive move to enhance healthcare accessibility, the Centre has urged insurers and hospitals to expedite processes surrounding health claims. Key measures include onboarding to the National Health Claims Exchange and standardizing treatment protocols. This initiative aims to reduce costs and improve service efficiency, ensuring better healthcare for all.
Key Takeaways
- The Centre is urging insurers to speed up health claims processing.
- Standardized treatment protocols are being developed.
- Consistent empanelment norms are crucial for service efficiency.
- Collaboration between hospitals and insurers is necessary to control costs.
- Improving turnaround time for claims is a priority for insurers.
New Delhi, Nov 14 (NationPress) The Centre has urged insurance providers and healthcare institutions to implement strategies aimed at accelerating the integration with the National Health Claims Exchange. This includes the creation of standardized treatment protocols, establishing uniform empanelment standards, and enabling hassle-free cashless claims processing to enhance the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services, as stated in an official announcement made on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by M. Nagaraju, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), focused on addressing the challenges posed by medical inflation and the increasing costs of premiums.
Key stakeholders present included members from the General Insurance Council, the Association of Healthcare Providers in India (AHPI), industry representatives from Max Healthcare, Fortis Healthcare, and Apollo Hospitals, alongside insurers such as New India Assurance Company Limited, Star Health Insurance, and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, among others.
Nagaraju highlighted that establishing standardized hospital empanelment criteria across all insurers would guarantee consistent cashless access for policyholders, enhance service standards, streamline operational processes, and alleviate the administrative burden on hospitals.
He stressed the importance of insurance companies ensuring that policyholders receive the highest quality of service and a quicker turnaround time, particularly during hospital admissions and in the claims settlement approval process.
During the discussion, the Secretary pointed out that while medical inflation is linked to various cost factors, increased cooperation between hospitals and insurers through cost management and standardization is crucial to provide transparency and efficiency, ultimately delivering better value to health insurance policyholders.
Notable figures such as Inderjeet Singh, Secretary General of the General Insurance Council, Dr. Suneeta Reddy, MD of Apollo Hospitals, Shivakumar Pattabhiraman, MD of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Abhay Soi, CMD of Max Healthcare, Dr. Girdhar J. Gyani, Director General of AHPI, Krishnan Ramachandran, CEO of Niva Bupa Health Insurance, and Amitabh Jain, ED & COO of Star Health Insurance, participated in these discussions, along with various other stakeholders.
Point of View
The Centre's proactive stance on expediting health claims settlements reflects a commitment to enhance the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services. Addressing the interconnected issues of medical inflation and operational inefficiencies is essential for the wellbeing of citizens. This approach, if implemented effectively, could significantly improve the healthcare landscape in India.
NationPress
14/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What measures is the Centre proposing for health claims?
The Centre is proposing to expedite onboarding to the National Health Claims Exchange, establish standardized treatment protocols, and implement common empanelment norms for insurers and hospitals.
Who attended the meeting regarding health claims?
Representatives from the General Insurance Council, AHPI, major healthcare providers like Max Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals, along with several insurance companies, attended the meeting.
Why are standardized norms important?
Standardized norms will ensure consistent cashless access for policyholders, streamline service terms, and reduce the administrative burden on hospitals.
