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Finance Ministry Presses Insurers and Hospitals to Join NHCE, Standardise Protocols, Speed Cashless Claims

The move targets medical inflation to ease premium growth through cooperation rather than new mandates.

Overview

  • DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju chaired a meeting with major insurers, hospital chains, the General Insurance Council and AHPI to address rising health costs.
  • Participants were urged to onboard the National Health Claims Exchange to streamline digital claim routing and approvals.
  • The ministry called for common hospital empanelment norms to ensure consistent cashless access and reduce administrative burden.
  • Insurers were told to improve turnaround during hospitalisation and at settlement so policyholders receive timely support.
  • No binding regulatory orders were announced, while insurer–provider tensions, including AHPI's cashless advisory against Bajaj Allianz, remain unresolved.