The Ministry of Health and Welfare has introduced a management benefits system for manual therapy to curb excessive treatments. With this change, the previously variable pricing across hospitals will be standardized, and the criteria for treatment will become stricter, signaling a significant shift in the manual therapy market, which has heavily relied on private insurance.
Starting today, the ministry announced that manual therapy will be subject to management benefits, aimed at addressing concerns over excessive treatments in non-covered medical items. Management benefits designate and regulate certain non-covered items that pose risks of distorting the healthcare system and compromising patient safety, with a patient cost-sharing rate of 95%.
As a result, the average cost of manual therapy, which previously ranged around 110,000 won ($85), will now be set at a uniform price of 43,850 won ($33) per session. While this regulation reduces price disparities, it imposes strict controls on the eligibility and frequency of treatments.
Historically, manual therapy has faced scrutiny due to significant variations in treatment costs and the potential for misuse, given its selective and supplementary nature. The ministry's introduction of management benefits aims to address these concerns.
According to the ministry, coverage for manual therapy will not be indiscriminately granted. It will only be recognized for musculoskeletal disorders with persistent functional abnormalities and pain, such as lower back pain, spinal stenosis, and joint contractures. The ministry clarified, "Manual therapy for personal needs like fatigue recovery or body correction will not be covered by health insurance or private insurance and must be paid for entirely by the patient."
New prerequisites for receiving manual therapy have also been established. Patients cannot demand manual therapy on the same day of their visit. The ministry stated, "Patients must undergo at least four sessions of basic physical therapy or simple rehabilitation for a minimum of 14 days before manual therapy can be administered." However, exceptions will be made for cases such as pediatric torticollis or post-surgical limitations in joint range of motion, where immediate treatment may be warranted based on a physician's medical judgment.
The method and frequency of treatment will also be restricted. Manual therapy can only be billed if conducted one-on-one for at least 30 minutes by a physician or physical therapist, and additional charges for night or holiday treatments will not apply. Furthermore, the number of sessions is limited to twice a week and a total of 15 sessions per year (based on the fiscal year).
However, in cases of significant joint contractures or stiffness due to surgery or fractures, and with a physician's medical judgment, up to 24 sessions per year may be permitted.
The practice of "manual therapy shopping," where patients visit multiple clinics, will also be strictly prohibited. Even if multiple areas are treated, billing can only occur once per day. Patients cannot receive manual therapy at one clinic and then seek treatment at another on the same day. To enforce this, all medical institutions must check the cumulative treatment count of patients through the "Manual Therapy Management System" and transmit treatment information in real-time.
Jung Eun-kyung, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "The introduction of management benefits is a necessary measure to prevent indiscriminate excessive treatments and reduce patients' medical costs, thereby strengthening the management system for non-covered items." She added, "We will continue to communicate and collaborate with the medical community to ensure the stable implementation of this system in practice."
Starting today, the ministry announced that manual therapy will be subject to management benefits, aimed at addressing concerns over excessive treatments in non-covered medical items. Management benefits designate and regulate certain non-covered items that pose risks of distorting the healthcare system and compromising patient safety, with a patient cost-sharing rate of 95%.
As a result, the average cost of manual therapy, which previously ranged around 110,000 won ($85), will now be set at a uniform price of 43,850 won ($33) per session. While this regulation reduces price disparities, it imposes strict controls on the eligibility and frequency of treatments.
Historically, manual therapy has faced scrutiny due to significant variations in treatment costs and the potential for misuse, given its selective and supplementary nature. The ministry's introduction of management benefits aims to address these concerns.
According to the ministry, coverage for manual therapy will not be indiscriminately granted. It will only be recognized for musculoskeletal disorders with persistent functional abnormalities and pain, such as lower back pain, spinal stenosis, and joint contractures. The ministry clarified, "Manual therapy for personal needs like fatigue recovery or body correction will not be covered by health insurance or private insurance and must be paid for entirely by the patient."
New prerequisites for receiving manual therapy have also been established. Patients cannot demand manual therapy on the same day of their visit. The ministry stated, "Patients must undergo at least four sessions of basic physical therapy or simple rehabilitation for a minimum of 14 days before manual therapy can be administered." However, exceptions will be made for cases such as pediatric torticollis or post-surgical limitations in joint range of motion, where immediate treatment may be warranted based on a physician's medical judgment.
The method and frequency of treatment will also be restricted. Manual therapy can only be billed if conducted one-on-one for at least 30 minutes by a physician or physical therapist, and additional charges for night or holiday treatments will not apply. Furthermore, the number of sessions is limited to twice a week and a total of 15 sessions per year (based on the fiscal year).
However, in cases of significant joint contractures or stiffness due to surgery or fractures, and with a physician's medical judgment, up to 24 sessions per year may be permitted.
The practice of "manual therapy shopping," where patients visit multiple clinics, will also be strictly prohibited. Even if multiple areas are treated, billing can only occur once per day. Patients cannot receive manual therapy at one clinic and then seek treatment at another on the same day. To enforce this, all medical institutions must check the cumulative treatment count of patients through the "Manual Therapy Management System" and transmit treatment information in real-time.
Jung Eun-kyung, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "The introduction of management benefits is a necessary measure to prevent indiscriminate excessive treatments and reduce patients' medical costs, thereby strengthening the management system for non-covered items." She added, "We will continue to communicate and collaborate with the medical community to ensure the stable implementation of this system in practice."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.