초록
Purpose: This study was to examine whether a health care model that provides comprehensive medical services based on population groups to members of the medical cooperative is applicable as a policy alternative in terms of medical use and cost. Methods: Data were derived from National Health Insurance claim data in 2019. We compared the medical volume and expenses of patients who visited social cooperative-type medical clinics with other patients, control group who visited other clinics in a local area. Results: The average number of visit days was 25.3 days in social cooperative-type medical clinics, more than 24.2 days in the control group (p=.004). However, the average medical cost per visit was KRW 46 thousand in social cooperative-type medical clinics, which was significantly lower than KRW 51 thousand in the control group (p<.001), and the total medical cost was also KRW 16.1 billion in social cooperative-type medical clinics and KRW 16.9 billion in the control group. Conclusion: We identified that a population-based health care model might change patients' behaviors to health care services and decrease total medical cost. Further population based experiment is needed to develop alternative healthcare model.