Refer Report
A high blood pressure and diabetes management service that allows patients with high blood pressure and diabetes to receive customized medical services at nearby local clinics will be implemented from the 30th.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 29th that the ‘Primary Medical Chronic Disease Management Project’, which manages patients with high blood pressure and diabetes in neighborhood clinics across the country, will be officially implemented from the 30th after completing a pilot project of about 5 years. The primary care chronic disease management project refers to a project in which neighborhood clinics establish customized management plans for patients with high blood pressure and diabetes through testing, and provide education and counseling regarding the disease and various management services to improve lifestyle habits.
For patients who participate in management services, the out-of-pocket rate for integrated chronic disease management fees, high blood pressure and diabetes-related test fees, and re-examination fees is reduced to 20%, which is 10 percentage points lower than the statutory outpatient outpatient rate of 30%. Management services are provided by doctors, nurses, nutritionists, etc. who have completed basic and advanced training in chronic disease management.
In addition, patients registered in the primary care chronic disease management project can receive up to 80,000 won worth of healthy living practice support per year if they practice healthy lifestyles on their own, such as walking, or continue to participate in services provided by the clinic. The support money is accumulated as points, which can be used to purchase products at designated online shopping malls or pay medical expenses at clinics nationwide.
Bae Kyeong-taek, Health Policy Director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, “As the hypertension and diabetes management service is expanded nationwide, we hope that patients with hypertension and diabetes will be able to actively manage their diseases with local clinics to prevent complications and become healthier.” said.
Reporter Son Ji-min sjm@hani.co.kr
Source: Korean