CHENGDU, Dec. 27 (NBD) -- The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China has released a circular to urge local governments to set specific goals for the construction of inter-provincial medical insurance settlement systems.  

According to the circular, all provincial out-of-town health insurance settlement systems will be connected to the national system in the first half of 2017. 

Retirees that have moved to or have lived in other provinces for more than one year after retirement and patients compliant with referral regulations will be able to have their medical expenses directly settled by the end of 2017.