'COVID-19 Critical Patient Compensation', Cannot Receive if Quarantine Not Lifted Within 20 Days

Implementation of Differential Loss Compensation Based on Number of Days Funded
Currently 10x → Up to 5 Days '14x', No Loss Compensation After 20 Days

On the morning of the 16th, a patient is being moved at a dedicated COVID-19 treatment hospital in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the shortage of COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds becomes increasingly severe, the government has introduced measures to improve the efficiency of bed management. When COVID-19 critically ill patients are hospitalized in severe care beds for an extended period, the compensation hospitals receive for losses will decrease inversely proportional to the length of stay.

On the 17th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that, following the deliberation and resolution of the Loss Compensation Deliberation Committee the previous day, differential loss compensation for medical institutions based on the length of stay of COVID-19 patients will be implemented starting from that day. This measure will be temporarily applied until the shortage of severe patient beds is resolved.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters explained, "This measure aims to rationalize the compensation standards for operating severe beds for COVID-19 patients so that beds can be used by patients who truly need them," adding, "It is a step to reduce ICU mortality by shortening the length of stay and increasing turnover rates."

Previously, for beds dedicated to treating severe patients, compensation was paid at 10 times the existing bed unit price regardless of the length of stay. During this process, some pointed out that certain medical institutions admitted patients to severe beds even when intensive care was not strictly necessary, considering the high loss compensation.

However, going forward, the compensation ratio will be strengthened during the early days of hospitalization and reduced in the later period according to the length of stay. The compensation ratio will increase up to 14 times for the first 5 days of hospitalization, remain at the current level of 10 times for days 6 to 10, but decrease to 6 times for days 11 to 19. If isolation is lifted after 20 days, no loss compensation will be provided.

The health authorities recently announced a policy to release COVID-19 critically ill patients from isolation if more than 20 days have passed since symptom onset. This is based on the judgment that there is no longer infectiousness after 20 days from symptom onset. If symptoms improve, immediate discharge from severe beds is possible, and if additional treatment is needed due to underlying conditions, patients will be transferred to general ICUs or other hospitals to continue treatment.

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