From the 11th, rapid antigen testing will be stopped at screening clinics at public health centers. As a result, there is a prospect that the local hospital that is conducting the test will become more crowded. Citizens line up to be tested for COVID-19 at a hospital in Seoul on the 31st of last month. [이승환 기자]At 11 am on the 1st, an otolaryngology department in Jung-gu, Seoul. Mr. A, who came to the hospital for tonsillitis treatment, had to turn away from her. This is because the number of rapid antigen testing personnel has skyrocketed. The nurse explained, “The examination reservations are already full by 3 pm.”
As rapid antigen testing is suspended at public health centers and temporary screening centers from the 11th, busy neighborhood hospitals are expected to become even more crowded. For a local hospital, the situation is not so bad. This is because the number of insurances applied to rapid antigen testing is so high that hospital revenues also increase significantly.
Many hospitals are even pointed out that they are relatively passive in ‘patient treatment’, such as prescribing oral medications, as they focus too much on rapid antigen testing that is ‘money’. Concerns are also raised that it is unclear whether local hospitals, which are busy enough to meet the demand for testing, will actively participate in face-to-face treatment in the future.
The government announced on the 1st that it would lower the number of rapid antigen tests at local hospitals and clinics and apply them from the 4th of next month. The intention is to increase the burden on hospitals by reducing government support while maintaining the patient burden.
The current rapid antigen test fee (the amount received by local hospitals and clinics) consists of a consultation fee of 17,000 won, a rapid antigen test fee of 17,000 won, and an infection prevention and management fee of 21,000 won (31,000 won for up to 10 patients). there is. Among them, the infection prevention and control fee will be excluded from the fee from the 4th of next month. As a result, from May 4, the hospital’s income per test will inevitably decrease by regarding 30,000 won.
The government lowered the rate of rapid antigen testing because local hospitals and clinics focused too much on rapid antigen testing. There are many hospitals and clinics that generate 5 million to 10 million won in sales per day due to high demand and guaranteed high rates.
On the other hand, it was relatively passive in terms of actual ‘treatment’ such as prescription of Paxrovid. This is because, unlike the COVID-19 test, a separate fee is not applied to the prescription of an oral treatment, and there is a risk of side effects when prescribing it. Ki-seok Ki-seok, a professor of respiratory medicine at Hallym University, said, “The burden of prescribing new drugs is not small from the point of view of local hospitals and clinics.”
In fact, there have been many reports of cases in which oral medications for high-risk groups are being passively administered. Cancer patient B, who lives in Seoul, is an intensive-risk group and his respiratory symptoms worsened rapidly while receiving home treatment. Symptoms were reported to a home treatment management institution (hospital level), but the prescription was only at the level of cold medicine.
Cheon Eun-mi, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “As in the case of Mr. B, among the high-risk patients who came to see a university hospital late, there are virtually no cases of Pax Lovid being prescribed at a local hospital. The reality of the current primary treatment for COVID-19 is that they do not preemptively prescribe Paxrovid, even if it is a case-by-case basis.”
As of the 31st of last month, there were over 10,000 medical institutions that were conducting RAT for professionals. On the other hand, the number of medical institutions that have participated in face-to-face treatment so far is still low. As of 5 pm on March 31st, the number of COVID-19 outpatient treatment centers has increased to a total of 487, of which only 191 have been newly applied in the past two days according to the guidelines for expanding face-to-face treatment. It is uncertain whether the participation rate of clinic-level medical institutions will increase in the future due to the excessive demand for tests.
To promote face-to-face treatment, the government has provided incentives. Face-to-face treatment is priced higher than usual. In case of hospital-level treatment, 24,000 won (twice of 12,000 won for re-visit examination) is added to the basic medical cost and applied. In fact, it is interpreted as a policy to induce the medical competency, which was focused on rapid antigen testing, to face-to-face treatment by reflecting the reduced number of rapid antigen tests in the face-to-face treatment fee.
The medical community is also planning to encourage participation in face-to-face treatment. Park Myung-ha, president of the Seoul Medical Association, said, “Many doctors leave Suga and are eager to prepare conditions for patient-to-face treatment, so the number of participating institutions is expected to increase in the future.”
Those with COVID-19 who wish to receive face-to-face treatment must make a reservation in advance. Treatment can be received not only for symptoms of COVID-19, but also for other underlying diseases.
Meanwhile, the government has also decided to suspend the payment of funeral support for COVID-19 during this month. The government has provided 10 million won to the bereaved family as a way to comfort the bereaved family by making funeral guidelines following cremation before the early stages of COVID-19. However, since last January, cremation and burial have been possible following the funeral. However, 3 million won for transmission prevention costs for infection control will continue to be provided to funeral facilities.
[한재범 기자]
[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
