CMA finalises private healthcare changes

clock

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a final order confirming timescales for reforms following its investigation into the private medical insurance (PMI) market.

The order puts into force some of the changes required by the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA's) investigation including:

  • a crackdown on benefits and incentive schemes provided to referring clinicians by private hospital operators
  • measures to increase the availability of information to patients on both consultant fees and the performance of consultants and private hospitals for the CMA to be able to review future arrangements where private hospital operators team up with NHS private patient units (PPUs) and ban any that might substantially lessen competition

The measure on PPUs will come into force immediately, the CMA confirmed. 

The measures on benefits and incentive schemes and better information for patients will come into force in April 2015 - with the exception of the requirement on consultants' fees which is the subject of an appeal hearing at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in January 2015.

The CMA's decision to require HCA to sell one or two of its London hospitals is also being challenged at the same hearing and will be the subject of a separate order.

More on PMI

Three quarters of adults say private healthcare is unaffordable
PMI

Three quarters of adults say private healthcare is unaffordable

Benenden Health research shows

Jaskeet Briah
clock 26 March 2024 • 2 min read
NFP acquires PMI intermediary
PMI

NFP acquires PMI intermediary

Bolstering employee benefits capabilities

Jaskeet Briah
clock 26 March 2024 • 1 min read
Corporate demand drives insured private health admissions
PMI

Corporate demand drives insured private health admissions

Self-pay admissions are plateauing

Jaskeet Briah
clock 25 March 2024 • 2 min read

Highlights

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

"It takes longer than ever to get underwriting terms"

John Brazier
clock 12 October 2023 • 5 min read
Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

According to latest ReMark report

John Brazier
clock 11 October 2023 • 2 min read
ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

Women within executive teams have grown to 32%

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 October 2023 • 3 min read