[2022 National Audit] 'Detailed Examination for Developmental Disabilities,' Only 17% Applied Despite Government Support... 'Lack of Promotion and Terminology Aversion'

Low Utilization of Precision Examinations, Average Support Rate of 14.5% Over the Past 5 Years
Only 41% of the Budget Has Been Actually Spent Since 2010
7 out of 10 People Are Unaware of the Support Program
Precision Examination Centers Are Concentrated in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Up to a Year Wait in Provinces
Terminology Also Causes Resistance
Kang Seon-woo: "Psychological Barriers Should Be Lowered by Renaming the Program to 'Developmental Precision Evaluation Support'"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The government supports the 'Developmental Disability Detailed Examination Fee' only for infants and toddlers who received a recommendation for in-depth evaluation in the developmental assessment of infant and toddler health checkups. However, only 17.1% of eligible recipients have received this support, and the budget execution rate is only 41%, leading to criticism that the program has been stagnant for 10 years.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Kang Sun-woo, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the total number of recipients eligible for developmental disability detailed examination fee support from 2013 to 2021 was 77,654. However, only 12,435 of them received support for examination fees, resulting in an average annual support rate of 16%.

In the recent five years (2017?2021), the number of recipients who underwent the examination further decreased, dropping the average support rate to 14.5%. Although the budget execution rate once rose to the 70% range in the best year, only 340 million KRW, which is 41% of the 830 million KRW budget, was used last year.

According to the 'Survey on the Actual Condition and Improvement Measures of Infant and Toddler Developmental Disability Detailed Examination Fee' submitted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in December last year, one of the main reasons the project is stagnant is the aversion to terms such as 'developmental disability' and 'detailed examination.'

The support target for the developmental disability detailed examination fee is infants and toddlers who received a 'recommendation for in-depth evaluation' in the developmental assessment of infant and toddler health checkups. The recommendation for in-depth evaluation does not mean a diagnosis of developmental disability but indicates that the child appears slightly delayed compared to peers and needs expert confirmation. Even though early detection and appropriate treatment are more important if a disability exists, the examination fee support is being neglected. As of last year, medical aid recipients and low-income groups receive up to 400,000 KRW, and those in the lower 50% of health insurance premium brackets (workplace subscribers with 111,000 KRW or less, regional subscribers with 104,500 KRW or less) receive up to 200,000 KRW in support.

The Korea Institute of Child Care and Education pointed out not only the aversion to the terminology itself but also disparities in detailed examination institutions by region and lack of publicity. A survey of 171 parents of children who received the recommendation for in-depth evaluation found that 72.5% were unaware of the support program itself. Although the National Health Insurance Service sends notices to all eligible recipients, only 8.5% of those who said they were aware learned about it through the health insurance notice.

There is also a significant disparity in regional accessibility. As of the end of June this year, there are 246 institutions capable of conducting developmental disability detailed examinations, with a staggering 151 located in the Seoul metropolitan area. In rural areas, even if one tries to receive support for detailed examination fees, waiting times range from several months to up to a year. In Seoul, there are 86 examination institutions for 1,113 eligible recipients, averaging about 13 recipients per institution, whereas in Gyeongbuk, there are 725 recipients but only 2 institutions. Each institution must handle 362 recipients.

The Yoon Seok-yeol administration's national agenda for 'Customized Integrated Support for Persons with Disabilities' includes expanding the support target for developmental disability detailed examination fees and considering the introduction of additional screening tests for infant and toddler Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The aim is to expand the examination targets and items.

Assembly member Kang Sun-woo emphasized, "There are concerns about whether the project can be normalized under the current Yoon Seok-yeol administration's project implementation method, which has been going in circles for 10 years. Measures to lower the psychological barriers for parents, such as renaming the project to 'Developmental Detailed Evaluation Fee Support,' are necessary, and expanding examination institutions by region should be prioritized."