When TPAs start telling doctors what to do

While TPAs ease the processes of administering health benefits between various stakeholders, incentivising them to manage medical costs aggressively is starting to interfere with doctors’ decisions for their patient’s health.

Third-party administrators (TPAs) sit in an increasingly powerful – and increasingly scrutinised – position within Malaysia’s private healthcare ecosystem.

They are not insurance companies: they do not underwrite risk, price premiums or sell policies.