• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.48-74
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• 2004

Considering the existence of asymmetric information between doctor and patient, the doctor's reimbursement method has been considered as a desirable policy device of improving efficiency of patient's use of medical care in terms of its affecting doctor's practice pattern by determining doctor's practice revenue. By using the Community Tracking Study (CTS) physician data set, which includes not only various information on doctors practice arrangements and sources of practice revenue, but also vignettes of various clinical presentations, this paper investigates doctor's reaction to the financial incentive under the control of patient's specific medical situation. Under the econometric model for exploring the effect of doctor's reimbursement method on his/her practice patterns; referring patients, recommend doctor-visit or medical tests, the Hausman's specification test was used for checking out the possibility of the doctor's reimbursement method being endogeneized explanatory variable. In the case where the endogeneity problem of doctor's reimbursement method exists, the 2SLS method was used for correcting that problem, and the multiple regression method was used in the case where the problem is found to be nonexistent. Based on the empirical results, this paper finds that doctors do appear to respond to financial incentive. The empirical results show that the doctor's reimbursement method statistically significantly affects doctor's practice pattern and are coincident with the theoretical result proposed by previous researches, This results suggest, as doctor's practice revenues are mainly determined by prospective method, such as capitation, doctors would more refer their patients to specialists, and hesitate in recommending doctor-visit or medical exam.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.88-113
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• 2004

Starting from April, 2003, new pre-review system has been introduced and implemented to reduce unnecessary conflict with medical care organizations caused by current retrospective claim review system and to enhance efficiency of review system. The main purpose of pre-review system is to educate doctors to contrive adequacy of medical services. This research mainly focuses on effectiveness of pre-review system's influence on physicians' behavior changes. The analysis-participants were drawn from 1,449 clinics which implemented pre-review system, since April of 2003. The research results are as followings. First, the amount per claim has reduced by $\\3,154$, days of visit per claim by 0.1 day, and amount per visit by $\\412$, which were statistically significant. Second, anesthesiologists have decreased in three indicators the most, and the internists had least of changes. Third, the amount per claim and days of visit per claims has dropped significantly on physicians with less periods of practice and physicians with more ages. Fourth, the clinics without the expensive medical equipments, the city clinics showed significant decrease on days of visit per claim. Fifth, in intervention methods, the one-to-one education showed more significant decrease on amount per visit rather than information feedback by paper. In conclusion, the pre-review system have an impact on self-imposed physician behavioral change. The outcome of this research may be utilized for future extension implementation of pre-review system. Furthermore, it is showed that ability of transitions in medical services review system according to the future transition of payment system and context of health service policy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.175-182
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of factors related to whether or not to take oral examinations for 104,811 economically active population aged 25 to 54 years using the 2016 community health survey data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to oral examination rate the effect general characteristics, socioeconomic and geographical characteristics, and oral health management behavior. The higher who age, the higher who education, have experience scaling, and the better who subjective oral health status, unmet dental needs rate of oral examination was higher. The higher the income level, the lower the oral examination rate. Age of economically active population, marital status, education level, area, income quartile, empolyment, scaling experience, unmet dental needs, there was a significant effect whether oral examination. The purpose of this study is to establish an positive basis for an effective oral examination program to improve accessibility to oral examinations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.372-383
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• 2011

Our study was carried out to develop the severity-adjustment model for length of stay in hospital for percutaneous coronary interventions so that we would analysis the factors on the variation in length of stay(LOS). The subjects were 1,011 percutaneous coronary interventions inpatients of the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey 2004-2006 data. The data were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA and the severity-adjustment model was developed using data mining technique. After yielding the standardized value of the difference between crude and expected length of stay, we analysed the variation of length of stay for percutaneous coronary interventions. There was variation of LOS in regional differences, size of sickbed and insurance type. The variation of length of stay controlling the case mix or severity of illness can be explained the factors of provider. This supply factors in LOS variations should be more studied for individual practice style or patient management practices and healthcare resources or environment. We expect that the severity-adjustment model using administrative databases should be more adapted in other diseases in practical.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

Background: Selective health benefit was introduced for decreasing economic burden of patients. Medical devices with economic uncertainty have been covered as selective health benefit by National Health Insurance since December 2013. We aimed to analyze impact of selective health benefit to medical expenditure and provider behavior focused on electrosurgery (ultrasonic shears, electrothermal bipolar vessel sealers) for gastric cancer patients covered since December 2014. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance claims data of 2,698 patients underwent gastric cancer surgery between August 2014 and March 2015. Medical cost and patient sharing per inpatient day were analyzed to verify that covering electrosurgery increased medical expenditure and changed provider behavior from open surgery to endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, we analyzed the claim rate of medical device or goods relating gastric endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. Results: Medical cost and patient sharing per inpatient day were increased after covering electosurgery as selective health benefit (39,724/1,421 won). However, there were no medical expenditure increases after adjusting claim of electosurgery and patient sharing was decreased 1,057 won especially. The coverage of selective health benefit did not increase the claim rate of medical device or goods related endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, either. Conclusion: Covering electosurgery decreased patient economic burden and did not change of provider behavior. Expanding selective health benefit is needed to decrease economic burden of severe patients. Further study should evaluate the long term effect with accumulated data.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.791-799
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed at examining the aspects of utilization of the dental services in some regions and analyzing the related factors with a view to helping the old solve the dental problems and overcome the difficulties. Methods : This investigation was intended for 422 old people living in Jeon-ju city and Jang-su county from July 18, 2006 to August 25 by direct interviewing posing questions. The survey data sets were analyzed by chi-square, correlation, multiple regression and logistic regression. Results : 1. The average number of the existing teeth per an old person was 13.6 and the 28.8% of the old who didn't use denture called for dentures. 2. The annual coefficient of utilization in dental services for an old person was 52.3% and the annual average visits to dental clinics were 3.12 days while 38.6% of the old experienced illegal dental treatments. 3. The affecting factors on the dental utilization for treatment were as follows: family income, dental clinics available, the number of existing teeth, the days of dental trouble, the recognition of the prevention of the dental disease, the knowledge for the dental treatment and the oral health judged by himself. 4. The major variables influencing the utilization of dental services were spouse presence, form of family, income, having a regular dental care, denture presence and the experience of inconvenience in living. Conclusions : To conclude, the following suggestions could be made. First, It was necessary that enforcement practice of free dental prosthesis service and application to the national health insurance in old people's prosthetic therapy for government support because the economic factor was barrier to utilization of the dental services. Second, Dental clinic was required to the health center because availability of common dental services was big impact in utilization of the dental services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2019

Background: As of July 2015, per diem payment was changed from fee for service Therefore, this study aims to analyse changes in medical charges and medical services before and after enforcement of the palliative care, targeting palliative care wards in a general hospital, and provide basic data needed for development of per diem payment. Methods: The subjects of the study were a total of 610 cases consisting of 351 patients of service fee who left hospital (died) from July 2014 to June 2016 and 259 ones of per diem payment at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Results: The results are summarized as follows. First, after the palliative care system was applied, benefit medical service charges and insurance increased significantly (p<0.001). As benefit medical service charges increased, benefit private insurance payment increased significantly (p<0.001). Second, after the per diem payment was applied, total private insurance payment to medical institutes decreased significantly (p=0.050) and non-benefit also decreased significantly (p=0.001). Conclusion: It is suggested that additional rewards in the obligatory palliative care items should be continuously remedied and monitored to provide good quality hospice palliative care.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.196-210
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• 2024

Background: In January 2018, revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment for the elderly were implemented. When people ages 65 years and older receive outpatient treatment at clinic-level medical institutions (clinic, dental clinic, Korean medicine clinic), with medical expenses exceeding 15,000 won but not exceeding 25,000 won, their copayment rates have decreased differentially from 30%. This study aimed to examine the changes of health utilization of elderly after revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. Methods: We used Korea health panel data from 2016 to 2018. The time period is divided into before and after the revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. We conducted Poisson segmented regression to estimate the changes in outpatient utilization and inpatient utilization and conducted segmented regression to estimate the changes in medical expenses. Results: Immediately after the revised policy, the number of clinic and Korean medicine outpatient visits of medical expenses under 15,000 won decreased. But the number of clinic outpatient visits in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 won and Korean medicine clinic in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 won increased. Copayment in outpatient temporarily decreased. The inpatient admission rates and total medical expenses temporarily decreased but increased again. Conclusion: We confirmed the temporary increase in outpatient utilization in the medical expense segment with reduced copayment rates. And a temporary decrease in medical expenses followed by an increase again. To reduce the burden of medical expense among elderly in the long run, efforts to establish chronic disease management policies aimed at preventing disease occurrence and deterioration in advance need to continue.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.162-170
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to provide framework for understanding children's dental utilization. In this paper Andersen-Newman's model is applied to the use of dental visits. This model consists of predisposing, enabling, and need components that describe a person's decision to use dental health services. One thousand, nine hundred seven children and their mothers were selected for the study. The children were fourth grade to sixth grade in elementary schools in Iksan city, Korea. Models are operationalized using stepwise multiple regression analysis and path analysis. The number of independent variables used in the analysis was 39 in total, ie 32 predisposing components, 6 enabling components, and 1 need component. Children's Dental utilization was measured based on the number of visits. The data collected by means of a questionnaire survey. In this study, the amount of variance by the model was 25 percent. Predisposing factors had the greatest effect on utilization. Number of restricted activity days caused by oral disease, having a regular dental care, and susceptibility on oral disease of children were found to have significant major effects on dental utilization of children. Mother's dental visits was most important factor affecting dental utilization of children.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1234-1243
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• 2011

Our study was carried out to develop the severity-adjustment model for length of stay in hospital for community-acquired pneumonia so that we analysed the factors on the variation in length of stay(LOS). The subjects were 5,353 community-acquired pneumonia inpatients of the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey data from 2004 through 2006. The data were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA and the severity-adjustment model was developed using data mining technique. There are differences according to gender, age, type of insurance, type of admission, but there is no difference of whether patients died in hospital. After yielding the standardized value of the difference between crude and expected length of stay, we analysed the variation of length of stay for community-acquired pneumonia. There was variation of LOS in regional differences and insurance type, though there was no variation according whether patients receive their care in their residences. The variation of length of stay controlling the case mix or severity of illness can be explained the factors of provider. This supply factors in LOS variations should be more studied for individual practice style or patient management practices and healthcare resources or environment. We expect that the severity-adjustment model using administrative databases should be more adapted in other diseases in practical.