[관련기사=의협, 의사회원들에게 '왕진 수가 시범사업' 참여 자제 공문 발송] 

KMA, sent out a memorandum to its members to refrain from participating in the ‘home-visit fee pilot program’ 
“Very low fee to manage financial resources of the national health insurance, Not enough compensation for the medical personnel”

On the 22nd, the Korean Medical Association sent out a memorandum of cooperation to its members to refrain from participating in the pilot program on the primary care home-visit fee.

The recipients were the presidents of the 16 medical associations in each city and province, president of Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (26 directors), president of Korean doctor’s association, presidents of doctor’s association in each department, president of Korean hospital doctor’s association, president of Korean intern resident association, president of Korean public health doctors association, and etc. 

The clinics that have more than 1 home-visit doctor are eligible to apply for this pilot program. Participating medical institutions may make a visit when patients with disabilities request medical treatment and can calculate the home-visit trial fees. For example, the patients with △ Paralysis (Lower extremity, quadriplegia, hemiplegia, etc.) △Right after surgery △Terminal Illness △Attachment of medical devices etc (Respirator etc) △ Neurodegenerative diseases △ Pressure sores and ulcers △ Psychiatric illness △ Cognitive impairment are eligible for this service. 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service will recruit medical institutions to participate in this pilot program from 22nd to 13th December. The clinics that have one or more doctors are eligible to participate in this pilot program. And the medical fee is between 80,000 and 115,000 won.

On the decision of the medical fees, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) said “the policy review committee of the national health insurance decided the home-visit fees. But, the KMA found that the committee set a very low home-visit fees that fit the economical purpose of securely managing the financial resources of the national health insurance instead of maintaining the health of the people and fully compensating the medical doctors for their services and hence the KMA decided not to participate in this pilot program.” 

The KMA said, "there is a lack of consideration for the people's right to maintain in good health and there is not enough compensation for the medical personnel. We ask our members and local medical institutions to refrain from participating in this program and active cooperation in KMA’s decision." 

By Sol Im