Reform in medical insurance payments

The State Council released a guideline on medical insurance payment reform on June 28, as a way to improve medical services and better allocate medical resources.

Hospitals and medical institutions are asked to practice different payment methods in line with illnesses and treatments. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine and medical services are also encouraged.

While keeping an eye on treatment costs, efforts will be made to improve medical quality and fund auditing, and ensure information security.

Details:>> China to expand medical insurance payment reform

More health insurance accounts can be settled off-site

By June 19, healthcare insurance accounts in 1,870 medical institutions were connected to the nationwide off-site settlement system for basic health insurance, which means that patients can settle their medical expenses at different places, instead of bringing them back to where their insurance plans are registered.

Now, 30 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps are wholly or partly connected to the system, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Tax cuts for self-employed retired soldiers

A retired soldier who starts his own business will enjoy three-year tax cuts of 8,000 yuan per year, according to a recent circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

It is among a series of preferential policies for self-employed retired soldiers issued in the circular.

Job information for poor rural labor

A column has been set up at cjob.gov.cn to publish jobs and employer information for poor laborers in the countryside, according to a circular from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the State Council Leading Group office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Nearly 200,000 jobs by 1,465 companies have been posted.

Cjob.gov.cn is a public employment service platform set up by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Preferential policy for small loan companies

From Jan 1, 2017, to Dec 31, 2019, value-added tax will be exempted on any interest income gained by a finance company from providing small loans to farmers, according to a circular issued jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation.

The tax preference was aimed at encouraging small loan companies to better serve agriculture and small businesses.

The small loan companies that got permits from provincial-level financial management authorities are eligible for the policy.

Exempt supervision fees for banks and insurance industry temporarily

Supervision fees for banks and insurance companies will be exempted temporarily from Jan 1, 2017, to Dec 31, 2020, according to a circular from the Ministry of Finance.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission and China Insurance Regulatory Commission should make final settlements on last year’s supervision fees by Aug 31, 2017.

Suspend campus loans by P2P companies

The government asked peer-to-peer (P2P) lending companies to suspend campus loans on June 28, according to a circular issued jointly by the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

It also urged colleges to manage risks in campus loans and educate students to spend money wisely.