"Administrative Appeals Should Reflect Local Realities"
Lee Cheol, Vice Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Wando 1), announced on the 18th that during the review of the first supplementary budget under the Planning and Coordination Office, he urged the development of measures to minimize harm to residents when administrative sanctions are imposed on small-scale nursing homes in island regions.
According to the current National Health Insurance Act, institutions that fraudulently claim nursing care benefits may face strong administrative sanctions, including full recovery of the claimed nursing care benefit costs, suspension of operations, or cancellation of designation. However, if a nursing home is forced to cease operations as a result, this can lead to secondary harm, where residents who have done nothing wrong are left without care.
Vice Chairman Lee pointed out, "There is a severe shortage of nursing facilities in island regions, so if even one facility closes, residents immediately have nowhere to go." He added, "To prevent innocent residents from suffering secondary harm due to mistakes or misconduct by nursing homes, a flexible approach that reflects local realities is needed from the administrative appeals stage."
He continued, "While fraudulent claims must be dealt with strictly, consideration must also be given to the residents and families who are harmed as a result. Jeonnam Province should act as a mediator between the system and the field, and, if necessary, directly inspect the sites. More proactive and meticulous responses are required."
In response, Legal Affairs Officer Jeong Hyejeong stated, "Regarding sanctions on long-term care institutions, we will directly examine the situation on the ground and also listen to the opinions of hospital officials."
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