The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho Kyu-hong) announced that starting from the 1st day, the coverage period for osteoporosis treatments aimed at improving the health of the elderly will be extended from 1 year to 3 years.
In addition, reimbursement of a new high-iron injection as an alternative to blood transfusion is provided for pregnant women, cancer patients, etc.
In the case of osteoporosis treatments, the coverage period is extended up to 3 years, considering that even if the condition improves from “osteoporosis” to “osteopenia” after treatment, the patient represents a high risk group for fractures.
This review was discussed with clinical experts such as the Korean Endocrine Society and the prioritization of benefits, and after one year of treatment (bone density measurement) -2.5
This expansion of benefits is expected to help prevent fractures in osteoporosis patients age 50 and older and reduce the burden of medical expenses for patients due to fractures.
Additionally, a new high-iron injectable drug (ingredient name: ferric hydroxide complex, carboxymaltose salt) can be used in cases where oral iron supplements are ineffective or difficult to administer due to side effects despite iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women, chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis or cancer patients Recently applied to health insurance, increased access to care for seriously ill patients.
The new drug listed this time alleviates the financial burden on patients and increases the convenience of treatment by alleviating time and multiple visits to the hospital when administering existing iron injections.
It has the advantage of being able to replenish enough iron in the body with a single injection, so it can be used instead of blood transfusion when bleeding occurs due to obstetric caesarean section, various female cancer surgeries, orthopedic surgery, etc. it is of great help to patients who need it.
The number of eligible patients is estimated to be about 143,000, and the annual cost of drugs per patient was about 116,000 won per bottle (20 ml), but with this health insurance requirement the cost is only about 35,000 won.
Lee Jung-gyu, director of health insurance policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said: “This expansion of coverage for osteoporosis treatments will help improve women’s health, including reducing fractures in women postmenopausal, and we will continue to push to strengthen coverage for patients with serious conditions, for example by applying coverage to new drugs that replace blood transfusions.” he stated.
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