Data on Pain and Central Nervous System Reported by Researchers at National Health Insurance Service (Unintended Consequences of Expanded Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reimbursement: A Nationwide Analysis Revealing Low Clinical Efficiency): Pain and Central Nervous System

2026 MAR 13 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Pain & Central Nervous System Daily News -- Investigators discuss new findings in Pain and Central Nervous System. According to news reporting originating from Wonju, South Korea, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “South Korea has expanded insurance reimbursement for brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under its single-payer national health insurance system. This study assessed the nationwide impact of this policy change on the diagnostic and management-related utility of brain MRI and overall diagnostic efficiency.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from National Health Insurance Service, “Nationwide claims data for brain MRI scans performed for headaches or dizziness between 2015 and 2022 were analyzed. Patients with clinically significant imaging findings (PCSIFs) were defined as those receiving follow-up observation or treatment after a new diagnosis. Low-value imaging cases, including those were later subject to selective reimbursement, were also identified. Efficiency was calculated as the number of MRI scans required to obtain one additional PCSIF across the prepolicy, expansion, and adjustment periods. The annual MRI volume increased from a mean of 93 694 before implementation to 716 085 during expansion, and then declined to 630 705 during the adjustment period. The use of MRI for headaches or dizziness increased by 1402%. PCSIFs exceeded the expected trends by 12 423 cases (26.6%) during expansion and 7808 cases (13.1%) during adjustment. Low-value imaging cases accounted for 45.4% of MRI scans during expansion. An average of 22 to 23 low-value MRI examinations were performed for each additional patient with diagnostically or clinically actionable findings. Overall, the policy markedly increased MRI use, while nearly half of additional scans were low value. Expanded reimbursement without strict clinical criteria increased MRI use but reduced diagnostic efficiency.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Policies should be guided by evidence-based indications to ensure efficient resource utilization and achieve clinically meaningful outcomes.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Unintended Consequences of Expanded Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reimbursement: A Nationwide Analysis Revealing Low Clinical Efficiency. Value In Health, 2026. Value In Health can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Value In Health - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/value-in-health/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Hyunjin Jeong, Health Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include Ji-Yoon Hong, Seunghee Kim, Munjeong Choi, Hyemin Cho, Suk Won Bae, Juhyang Lee and Kwon-Duk Seo.

Publisher contact information for the journal Value In Health is: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA.

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