Severe patient health insurance will be applied on July 1st.
From July 1, 2023, three new drugs for severely ill patients will be included in the health insurance benefit list for the treatment of severe diseases. In particular, treatments for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and treatments for patients with severe atopic dermatitis are expected to ease the economic burden.
The government has approved a plan to apply three new drugs to treat severe diseases to health insurance benefits to reduce the burden of medical expenses on the people. It also decided to push for a policy to expand support for assistive devices for the disabled.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to expand insurance benefits based on the contents from July 1, 2023, after deliberation by the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee.
First of all, in the case of treatments for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, new drugs for those who do not respond to existing treatments are covered by health insurance. It is established that benefits are available for adult patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) who previously demonstrate resistance or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). As a result, the annual administration cost of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia is expected to be reduced from the current 56 million won to 2.8 million won due to health insurance coverage. Treatments for patients with severe atopic dermatitis were also listed on the payroll. Treatment continues for adults with severe atopic dermatitis, which is difficult to control properly with existing treatments, and adolescents aged 12 or older. To this end, benefits will be provided if adults with symptoms that have lasted for more than three years, teenagers aged 12 or older, and 17 or younger do not respond after the first treatment or cannot use other treatments due to side effects.
However, patients aged 65 or older, high cardiovascular risk groups, and patients at risk of malignant tumors are excluded. The government explains that the annual administration cost for patients with severe atopic dermatitis will be reduced from about 9.5 million won to 950,000 won for adults and 6.65 million won for teenagers due to health insurance coverage. Treatments for improving hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease will also be listed on the payroll. Among patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis, pay is also possible if the blood phosphorus level before administration of the drug is 5.5 mg/dL or higher. The annual administration cost of patients with chronic kidney disease hyperphosphatemia undergoing hemodialysis will be reduced from the current about 770,000 won to 230,000 won for adults due to health insurance coverage.
Expand the scope of support for assistive devices for the disabled.
Support for assistive devices for people with severe disabilities will also be expanded. Add an optional electric wheelchair to the existing electric wheelchair support to strengthen the function of preventing bedsores. In addition, the government will raise the salary standard for auxiliary devices such as electric wheelchairs and electric scooters by up to 81%.
Specifically, in the case of electric wheelchairs, only general types were paid, but additional optional electric wheelchairs with enhanced pressure ulcer prevention functions are supported, and subsidies are expanded even when it is difficult to change the posture of severely disabled people.
Other medical benefits and improvements.
The prescription period for electrodes for positive pressure devices and continuous blood glucose measurement will be extended to up to 12 months. It alleviates the burden of medical expenses by reducing the cost of treatment for patients with severe atopic dermatitis and patients with chronic kidney disease hyperphosphatemia. Prescription improvements for positive pressure devices and electrodes for continuous blood glucose measurement will also be made.
In order to improve patient convenience, the current uniform three-month prescription period can be extended up to 12 months at the doctor's judgment in consideration of the patient's positive pressure compliance and health condition.
The procedure for registering new pay products for continuous blood glucose measurement electrodes in patients with type 1 diabetes will also be improved. Payments were made possible only by applying for registration with the Health Insurance Corporation. Medical health policies such as registering salaries for new drugs, expanding support for auxiliary devices, and improving prescriptions will take effect on July 1, 2023.
