The Prime Minister’s department has loaned one of its top people to Bupa, the company that is likely to benefit the most from the NDIS.

Rebecca Cross - head of domestic policy at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet - was on secondment to the country's largest health insurer as part of a program run by the Australian Public Service Commission and the Business Council of Australia (BCA).

But now, reports say the multi-billion-dollar insurer is keeping her on by setting up a new arrangement directly with the PM’s department.

Ms Cross has been acting as Bupa’s head of government relations, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest especially in regard to the $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a second unidentified senior figure from the department has been seconded to Australian Unity, another company set to benefit significantly from the NDIS.

The secondment program run by the Public Service Commission and the BCA has placed dozens of high-ranked public servants from both state and federal agencies s into companies including Virgin, Deloitte and Qantas.

The program was opened up in NSW by a memorandum of understanding signed by former premier Mike Baird, who has himself taken an executive position at the National Australia Bank.

The scheme was created after criticism that public servants did not know enough about how things work in private industry.

Senator Penny Wong raised concerns when the program started last year.

“It is directly involving liaison with government while she remains, whilst on leave without pay, an employee of the government and in fact a member of the Senior Executive Service,” she said in senate estimates.

Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd says it is up to secondees, their home agency and host organisations to work out conflicts of interest.

BCA chief Jennifer Westacott says it is vital to prevent “departments becoming siloed from the real economy”.

“Australia can only gain by different sectors of the economy talking to each other and gaining deeper understanding of the other side,” she told Fairfax.

Ms Cross told reporters she did not believe she would return to her old portfolio, given the potential conflicts that moving back could create.

“My guess is I wouldn't go back in to the health area that is looking at private health insurance,” she said.