Irdai expresses concern over high hospital tariffs plans to

standardise charges
    Kolkata, Feb 14 (PTI) Insurance sector regulator Irdai
on Friday expressed concern over rising tariffs in hospitals
and has planned to standardise charges for some medical
procedures, an official said.
    It has been noticed that rate of inflation of hospital
charges at present is around 10-15 per cent and tariffs are
being changed on a regular basis, Irdai member (non-life) T L
Alamelu said here.
    "Hospitals keep on changing tariffs on a regular
basis. There is no body to check that. The regulator does not
allow insurance companies to raise premium every year though
there is around 10-15 per cent inflation of hospital charges
at present," Alamelu said.
    There is a "mismatch", she said at a programme,
organised by Assocham.
    "In this context, the General Insurance Council is in
talks with the TPAs (third party administrators) to
standardise charges for some procedures like cataract surgery
and hysterectomy," she said.
    The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of
India is striving for standardisation of charges of medical
procedures, she said, adding that it will take some time as
this is a "tough challenge".
    Currently, TPAs are being selected by the insurance
companies, Alamelu said.
    "We plan to introduce a system in which people will
have the liberty to choose their TPAs," she said.
    Alamelu said the regulator is thinking to set up a
health insurance forum for settlement of claims.
    "All claims will be settled from this forum within a
specific period of time," she said.
    IRDAI is also planning to come out with a common
health policy 'Arogya Sanjeevani' with standardised terms and
conditions and every insurer has to offer this, she said.
    Alamelu said there has been a good growth in the
health insurance industry for the last ten years.
    "From Rs 3,342 crore in 2006-07, collection of health
insurance premium has increased to Rs 44,873 crore in 2018-
19," she added. PTI dc
BDC BDC

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)