Active Support for Early Treatment of Mental Illness... Legislative Notice for Amendment to the Mental Health Welfare Act Enforcement Decree

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 7th that it will hold a legislative notice from the 8th of this month until the 17th of next month for a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Support for Mental Patients" (Mental Health Welfare Act), which sets the subjects and contents related to early treatment cost support for mental patients and mandates that the state or local governments support the burden of emergency hospitalization costs.

Although the state and local governments currently provide support through the "Mental Patient Treatment Cost Support Project" for early treatment costs and emergency hospitalization, there has been criticism regarding the lack of legal grounds for such support. Following the amendment of the law in June, the enforcement decree has been prepared based on the delegation of authority in the revised law.

Accordingly, from now on, mental patients who have been diagnosed for the first time within 5 years or have received treatment within 5 years will be defined as eligible for early treatment cost support, allowing them to receive support in either case. The support will cover part or all of the costs that the patient must bear, and non-reimbursable expenses may also be supported considering income levels and other factors.

In cases of emergency hospitalization conducted with the consent of a police officer, part or all of the patient's burdened costs will also be supported, and non-reimbursable expenses may be supported here as well, taking into account income levels and other factors.

Additionally, to simplify the treatment cost support procedures, after obtaining the consent of the individual, the responsible public official will be able to verify whether the individual receives livelihood, medical, housing, or educational benefits or belongs to the near-poverty class.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to finalize the amendment after collecting opinions during the legislative notice period. Related opinions can be submitted to the Mental Health Policy Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare by the 17th of next month. More detailed information about the amendment can be found on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.