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Effects of Usual Source of Care by Patients with Diabetes on Use of Medical Service and Medical Expenses  

Lee, So Dam (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service)
Shin, Euichul (Department of Preventive Medicine, Catholic University College of Medicine)
Lim, Jae-Young (Department of Food and Resource Economics, Korea University)
Lee, Sang Gyu (Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University)
Kim, Ji Man (Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University)
Publication Information
Korea Journal of Hospital Management / v.22, no.3, 2017 , pp. 1-17 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purposes: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that requires continuous care in order to prevent complications, as it can impose a critical burden on families and society due to various complications, including terminal renal failure, non-traumatic lower extremity amputation, and adult blindness. The usual sources of care are "specified private clinics, public health centers, or other facilities to visit when ill or when health-related advice is needed". These usual sources of care offer preventative services, have a high overall satisfaction rate in terms of public health care, and decrease the inpatient rates and medical costs of medical aid recipients. This study analyzed the current status of diabetic patients over 20 years of age based on their possession of a usual source of care, and the effects of this possession on the frequency of their medical service usage and its costs. Methodology: Based on data from the 7th Korea Health Panel, a Tobit analysis was used to analyze the different factors that can affect the frequency of medical service usage and its costs for diabetic patients with and without a usual source of care. Findings: The medical costs of diabetic patients with a usual source of care decreased in terms of inpatient, and the outpatient visits and inpatient costs of the group with a usual source of care in the form of a mainly-visiting doctor decreased more than those of the group with a mainly-visiting medical institution only. Practical Implications: Having a usual source of care can increase the treatment continuity, leading to reduced inpatient, and having a mainly-visiting doctor as the usual source of care further increases the treatment continuity. Based on these results, a new policy is needed to increase and strengthen diabetic patients? possession of a usual source of care.
Keywords
diabetes; usual source of care; medical utilization;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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