Core Viewpoint - The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) is accelerating the implementation of instant settlement for medical insurance funds, aiming for nationwide coverage by the end of this year and over 80% of designated medical institutions by the end of next year, which will improve cash flow for medical institutions [1][2]. Group 1: Policy Implementation - The NHSA has issued a notice to promote the instant settlement reform, with a focus on expanding the coverage of regions, funds, and designated medical institutions [1][3]. - By the end of 2025, all regions are required to implement instant settlement, and by the end of 2026, 80% of local medical insurance fund monthly settlement funds should be covered by instant settlement [1][3]. Group 2: Impact on Medical Institutions - The reform aims to alleviate the long-standing issue of slow payment to medical institutions, which typically experience a 40 to 60-day wait for funds after patient discharge [2][3]. - Instant settlement will shorten the payment cycle, allowing medical institutions to have smoother cash flow and invest more in equipment upgrades and talent development, ultimately enhancing patient care [2][3]. Group 3: Operational Efficiency - The NHSA has initiated pilot programs for instant settlement, optimizing processes such as fund settlement list uploads and intelligent reviews to improve efficiency [3]. - The notice emphasizes the need for a standardized fund disbursement mechanism, requiring medical institutions to submit expense claims by the 10th of the following month, with funds disbursed within 20 working days [3].

Core Viewpoint - The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) is accelerating the reform of instant settlement for medical insurance funds, aiming for over 80% of designated medical institutions to adopt this system by the end of 2026, which will improve cash flow for medical institutions [1][2]. Group 1: Reform Objectives - By the end of 2025, all regions in the country are required to implement instant settlement, with over 80% of designated medical institutions covered by the end of 2026 [1]. - The instant settlement will cover employee medical insurance funds (including maternity insurance) and urban-rural resident medical insurance funds, with potential inclusion of major illness insurance funds and medical assistance funds in certain areas [1][2]. Group 2: Impact on Medical Institutions - The instant settlement reform addresses the long-standing issue of slow payment in the medical field, where it typically takes 40 to 60 days for medical institutions to receive payments after patient discharge [2][3]. - By shortening the payment cycle, the reform alleviates cash flow pressure on medical institutions, allowing them to invest more in equipment upgrades and talent development, ultimately enhancing patient care [2][3]. Group 3: Implementation and Management - The NHSA has initiated pilot programs for instant settlement and has rapidly expanded them nationwide over the past eight months [3]. - The reform includes optimizing the settlement process through smart auditing and aims to complete fund disbursement within 20 working days after expense declaration [3]. - The NHSA emphasizes the need for a standardized fund disbursement mechanism and enhanced risk management to ensure the safety of the funds [3].