Health insurance records show 25,206 improper billing violations at 20 long-term care hospitals in Gwangju and South Jeolla between 2022 and September 2026. The figures were included in Ministry of Health and Welfare data obtained by National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee member Jeon Jin-sook, according to Namdo Ilbo.
The cases covered charges for examinations and medication involving patients who were not actually hospitalized, as well as claims for cupping therapy and physical treatment that had not been performed. Investigators also found inflated use of dialysis fluid and insurance claims for examination fees after patients received non-covered vaccinations.
Staffing reports were another route to higher payments. Some hospitals allegedly continued listing nurses who had already left or reported personnel who were not dedicated to the stated duties as regular staff, allowing the institutions to claim a higher nursing grade. Other facilities listed absent cooks, dietitians or pharmacists as full-time employees to receive staffing-related add-on payments.
Penalties reflected sharply different violation totals
Enforcement varied by institution. One hospital in Dong-gu received a 30-day suspension after 11,400 violations were identified. A hospital in Shinan faced a surcharge of about 296.85 million won for 1,724 violations, including false admissions and improper meal-related add-ons. In Gwangyang, a hospital was assessed about 128.46 million won over 1,452 violations involving false nursing staff reports and excessive dialysis-fluid claims.
The ministry’s submission to the National Assembly withheld the hospitals’ names, leaving patients and families unable to identify the institutions from the disclosed material. Jeon said authorities should move beyond recovering improperly paid funds by strengthening checks that can detect false staffing reports and claims for treatments that were never provided, while accelerating administrative action and monitoring repeat violations.