HIRA Releases Assessment Ratings for Over 1,300 Long-term Care Hospitals Nationwide

233 Institutions Receive First-Grade Rating...
Top 30 Percent to Receive Incentives

The results of a nationwide assessment of long-term care hospitals, based on factors such as the scale of medical staff and improvements in patient conditions, have been released.

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) announced on June 19 the results of an adequacy assessment conducted on inpatient care provided from July to December 2023 at 1,325 long-term care hospitals nationwide that claim per diem fixed rates. The results were published on the HIRA website and the 'Health e-eum' app.

The assessment indicators included the number of patients per physician and nurse, the proportion of patients who developed pressure ulcers, the proportion of patients whose ability to perform activities of daily living improved, the proportion of long-term inpatients, and the rate of return to the community, among other treatment outcomes.

Based on these indicators, the average overall score for all long-term care hospitals was 77.9 points. This is 0.5 points higher than the previous assessment.

A total of 233 institutions (18.0%) received a first-grade rating, which is given to those with an overall score of 87 points or higher. The second-grade rating, given to those scoring between 79 and less than 87 points, was awarded to 451 institutions (34.8%). The lowest, fifth-grade rating (less than 63 points), was given to 109 institutions (8.4%).

The highest number of first-grade institutions was in the Gyeonggi region, with 79 facilities. This was followed by 62 in the Gyeongsang region and 30 in the Jeolla region.

HIRA plans to provide financial support for one year to 378 institutions, which are in the top 30% based on overall score, and to 178 institutions that received a fourth-grade rating or higher and improved their overall score by 5 points or more compared to the previous assessment. On the other hand, for 48 institutions in the bottom 5% based on overall score, additional inpatient fee payments and personnel compensation will be restricted for six months.