One in four patients re-scanned after hospital transfer, costing health insurance $47 million

A significant portion of patients in South Korea are undergoing duplicate CT and MRI scans shortly after initial examinations at different hospitals, leading to substantial waste of national health insurance funds. Data from the National Health Insurance Service, obtained by lawmaker Kim Sun-min, revealed that 26.8% of patients who had a CT scan and then visited another hospital for the same condition within 30 days were re-scanned. This trend has been increasing annually, reaching 26.8% in 2025. Similarly, 13.8% of patients who moved to a different hospital for an MRI scan were re-scanned within the same month. The financial burden of these duplicate scans amounted to approximately 65 billion won ($47 million) in the past year, with 49.1 billion won for CTs and 15.9 billion won for MRIs. Medical professionals are questioning the necessity of these repeated scans. Dr. Shim Kyung-won, a family medicine professor at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, stated that patients are supposed to receive their previous scan data and opinions when transferring hospitals. She emphasized that re-scanning within a month is unnecessary when such information is available, highlighting a potential loophole or inefficiency in the healthcare system that leads to the depletion of public funds.

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When a patient moves to another hospital, they are supposed to be provided with previously taken images and opinions upon request.