What are the criteria for becoming a TPA?
The regulatory agency for all TPAs is the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). The IRDA grants and revokes licences to the TPA. It also lays down the guidelines and minimum criteria in terms of finance and infrastructure to be met before applying for a TPA licence. The detailed guidelines for TPAs are provided at the site http://www.irdaindia.org/tpareg.htm. The salient points are • A TPA must be a registered company, with at least one registered doctor on its board of directors. • The TPA licence is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue and must be renewed after every three years. • The IRDA reserves the right to cancel the licence if the TPA has been found guilty of deliberate malpractice. • An insurance company can tie up with more than one TPA. Terms and conditions of the interaction between the TPA and the insurance company are to be drawn up internally between the two parties, without the interference of the IRDA. • The TPA shall be remunerated di
