Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Designation as Managed Care Benefit Deferred... "Autonomous Correction by Medical Community First"

by Jo Inkyung

Published 05 Mar.2026 19:57(KST)

First Meeting of the 2026 Non-Covered Services Management Policy Council Held
Further Review Planned for Including Language Therapy in Insurance Coverage

The government has decided to keep extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which has raised concerns about misuse and abuse, as a non-covered service, while allowing the medical community to manage it autonomously.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Designation as Managed Care Benefit Deferred... "Autonomous Correction by Medical Community First"

On March 5, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it had reached this decision during the first meeting of the 2026 "Non-Covered Services Management Policy Council," a discussion body for the appropriate management of non-covered healthcare services.

Managed care benefits refer to designating certain medical practices as 'preliminary' health insurance items to promote appropriate medical use and enhance social benefits, such as reducing the public's medical expenses. Under this system, services previously classified as non-covered-with significant price differences among medical institutions and concerns about excessive use-are brought under a management framework.

In December of last year, the council selected manual therapy, percutaneous epidural neuroplasty, and radiothermotherapy as managed care benefit items, while deciding to hold further discussions on language therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

At the meeting on this day, the council agreed to prioritize the implementation of an autonomous corrective action plan for extracorporeal shock wave therapy by the medical community, and to review whether to designate it as a managed care benefit item based on monitoring results. The autonomous corrective action will involve the Korean Medical Association, which participates in the council, developing appropriate non-covered treatment guidelines and encouraging management by individual institutions.

Regarding language therapy, the council decided to conduct further review, including considering coverage under the national health insurance system.

Ko Hyungwoo, Director of Essential Medical Support at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "We will continue to monitor changes in the utilization of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and for the three items already designated as managed care benefits, we will proceed without delay with the necessary procedures for setting prices and reimbursement standards."

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Designation as Managed Care Benefit Deferred... "Autonomous Correction by Medical Community First"

First Meeting of the 2026 Non-Covered Services Management Policy Council Held Further Review Planned for Including Language Therapy in Insurance Coverage

First Meeting of the 2026 Non-Covered Services Management Policy Council Held
Further Review Planned for Including Language Therapy in Insurance Coverage