Clinical Guidance for Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency and Critical Care Areas after Implementing Insurance Coverage in Korea

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. e54 - 14
• Main Authors: Choi, Wook Jin, Ha, Young-Rock, Oh, Je Hyeok, Cho, Young Soon, Lee, Won Woong, Sohn, You Dong, Cho, Gyu Chong, Koh, Chan-Young, Do, Han Ho, Jeong, Won Joon, Ryoo, Seung Mok, Kwon, Jae Hyun, Kim, Hyung Min, Kim, Su Jin, Park, Chan Yong, Lee, Jin Hee, Lee, Jae Hoon, Lee, Dong Hyun, Park, Sin-Youl, Kang, Bo Seung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 24.02.2020; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Critical Care - statistics & numerical data; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Insurance Coverage - statistics & numerical data; Point-of-Care Systems; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Republic of Korea; Special; Ultrasonography - statistics & numerical data; 의학일반; Republic of Korea; Insurance Coverage; Emergencies; Critical Care; Point-of-Care Systems; Insurance; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e54

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful tool that is widely used in the emergency and intensive care areas. In Korea, insurance coverage of ultrasound examination has been gradually expanding in accordance with measures to enhance Korean National Insurance Coverage since 2017 to 2021, and which will continue until 2021. Full coverage of health insurance for POCUS in the emergency and critical care areas was implemented in July 2019. The National Health Insurance Act classified POCUS as a single or multiple-targeted ultrasound examination (STU vs. MTU). STU scans are conducted of one organ at a time, while MTU includes scanning of multiple organs simultaneously to determine each clinical situation. POCUS can be performed even if a diagnostic ultrasound examination is conducted, based on the physician's decision. However, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service plans to monitor the prescription status of whether the POCUS and diagnostic ultrasound examinations are prescribed simultaneously and repeatedly. Additionally, MTU is allowed only in cases of trauma, cardiac arrest, shock, chest pain, and dyspnea and should be performed by a qualified physician. Although physicians should scan all parts of the chest, heart, and abdomen when they prescribe MTU, they are not required to record all findings in the medical record. Therefore, appropriate prescription, application, and recording of POCUS are needed to enhance the quality of patient care and avoid unnecessary cut of medical budget spending. The present article provides background and clinical guidance for POCUS based on the implementation of full health insurance coverage for POCUS that began in July 2019 in Korea.