정승룡 국민건강보험공단 수원동부지사장
In Korea, which has entered a super-aging society, integrated care is a necessity, not an option, and is becoming a core infrastructure of the national care system rather than a pilot policy. It is difficult to sufficiently support the lives of the elderly and vulnerable groups with complex needs with the existing system in which medical, nursing, and welfare services are provided separately. Against this background, the integrated care pilot project supported by the National Health Insurance Corporation is significant in that it presents the possibility and implementation model for building a community-centered care system.
The key outcomes of the pilot project were target-centered service linkage and data-based case management. Based on health insurance big data and experience in operating long-term care insurance, we have built a system that integrates medical and nursing information and comprehensively evaluates the subject’s functional status and social risk factors. This went beyond simple service provision and led to practical results in minimizing gaps in care, such as preventive care, reduction of readmissions, and support for patients discharged from nursing hospitals to return to the community.
With the full implementation of the ‘Act on Integrated Support for Regional Care, including Medical and Nursing’ in March 2026, consumer-centered integrated medical, nursing, and care services were launched, and the National Health Insurance Corporation is required to play a role as a specialized regional integrated care agency beyond an insurance operating agency.
First, the service gap between regions must be reduced by supporting the expansion of high-quality service infrastructure that reflects regional characteristics. Second, data-based target identification and policy effectiveness must be objectively inspected. Third, cooperation between local governments, medical institutions, and welfare organizations must be strengthened and on-site implementation capabilities must be improved.
Amid these changes, Suwon Saebit Care is an example that shows potential in the local field. A rapid support system based on public-private cooperation, a resident-participatory care network, and linkage with field-centered customized services demonstrate the practical operation of integrated care. In particular, the method of linking immediate living support and health care in crisis situations has had the effect of increasing the patient’s sensitivity and reducing blind spots in care.
The success of integrated care is not achieved through the efforts of one organization alone. Now that all preparations have been completed through the pilot project, the success of the newly launched integrated care in March is expected to be achieved when a sustainable care system is organically combined with the local needs and understanding of local governments, the expertise and data capabilities of the National Health Insurance Corporation, and the execution ability of field organizations. Ahead of the launch of this project, if the National Health Insurance Corporation, as an integrated care specialist, supports the spread of innovative regional models such as Suwon Saebit Care throughout the country, it is expected that it will become a policy that makes the promise of integrated care a reality, a society where everyone can receive care when they grow old and sick with dignity where they live.
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date: 2026-02-12 15:07:00