Face-to-Face COVID-19 Treatment Now Available at Local Clinics and Hospitals

Applications available from the 30th for hospital-level, and from April 4th for clinic-level
No separate review required, and health insurance fee claims are possible

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Starting as early as the 30th, in-person COVID-19 consultations will be available at nearby local clinics and hospitals.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 29th that it discussed the 'Plan to Expand Outpatient Treatment Centers for Home Care' at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting.

So far, the government has designated and operated outpatient treatment centers since December last year to provide outpatient care when necessary during home treatment. As of midnight on the day, 279 centers are providing consultations, but with the recent surge in confirmed cases, the demand for in-person consultations is increasing.

Accordingly, the government decided to expand the eligibility for outpatient treatment center applications to all clinics and hospitals so that in-person consultations can be provided for COVID-19 and other diseases at nearby local medical institutions. The application process has also been simplified so that medical institutions can apply directly to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Medical institutions that apply to become outpatient treatment centers can provide in-person consultations immediately from the day of application without a separate review. The applying institutions must secure separate time or space and ensure available doctors and nursing staff to provide consultations.

Participating hospitals can claim health insurance fees such as infection prevention management fees.

Hospital-level medical institutions wishing to be designated as outpatient treatment centers can apply directly to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service starting from the 30th, and clinic-level medical institutions can apply from the 4th of next month. Hospitals wishing to be designated must fill out the 'Home Care Outpatient Treatment Center Application/Change Form' and send it by fax. From the 8th of next month, applications can be submitted through the Integrated Health and Medical Resources Reporting Portal.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters explained, "This will provide a foundation for citizens to receive appropriate treatment when needed and transition to the general medical system."

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