• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2023

Background: While there are many studies estimating the effects of private health insurance on various types of health care utilization, few have examined how such effects change in conjunction with important policy reforms in national health insurance (NHI). This study examined how the effect of private health insurance (supplemental and fixed cash benefit) on high-cost outpatient imaging test utilization changed following the expansion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coverage in 2018, which is a key example of the NHI benefit expansion policy in recent years. Methods: Data from the 2017 and 2019 Korea Health Panel Survey, which contained information about healthcare utilization before and after the expansion of MRI coverage in 2018, were used. The incremental effect of private health insurance on high-cost outpatient imaging test utilization for each period were quantified and compared, with special attention given to the type of private health insurance. Results: While people with supplemental private health insurance were more likely to use high-cost outpatient imaging tests than those without, both before and after the expansion of MRI coverage, the incremental effect increased from 1.6% points in 2017 to 2.5% points in 2019. Conclusion: Benefit expansion in NHI does not necessarily reduce disparities in the use of health care between private health insurance subscribers and non-subscribers. The results of our study also suggest that the path through which private health insurance affects healthcare utilization may not be limited to the price mechanism alone but can be more complex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1053-1068
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• 2020

In accordance with the new healthcare policy of government (Moon Jae-In Care) to strengthen health insurance coverage, the National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), brain/neck MR angiography (MRA), and head and neck MRI have been expanded since 2018 in Korea. This article has been reviewed focusing on the "Detailed matter concerning criteria and method for providing reimbursed services in the NHI. Some revisions" regarding reimbursement for MRI, which was revised from October 2018 to April 2020 and is currently in effect. It included the MRI reimbursement system in Korea, recent adjustment of the reimbursement coverage for patients with headache or dizziness, and reimbursement coverage, standard imaging, and radiologic report of brain MRI, brain/neck MRA and head and neck MRI. This article could help radiologists gain knowledge on health insurance to protect the expertise of the radiologist and to play a leading role in the hospital. As the policy changes, detailed matter concerning criteria and method for providing reimbursed services in the NHI may be revised. Therefore, radiologists should update issues related to insurance reimbursement for MRI continuously.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1069-1082
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• 2020

Coverage by National Health Insurance (NHI) was expanded in the abdominal imaging area as follows: upper abdominal ultrasound on April 1, 2018, lower abdominal ultrasound on February 1, 2019, and abdominal MRI on November 1, 2019. Many patients can benefit from the expansion of NHI coverage. Newly included diseases for NHI coverage includes liver cirrhosis, gallbladder polyps, hepatic adenoma/dysplastic nodules, pancreatic cysts, autoimmune pancreatitis and bile duct stone disease. However, the expansion of coverage made each examination more complex, including indications, follow-up strategy, the number of examination per patients, the standard images to be acquired, and the standard forms of the radiological report. Therefore, more careful consideration is mandatory when an abdominal imaging examination is prescribed and conducted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.272-280
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• 2017

Background: The high cost of intrathecal morphine pump (ITMP) implantation may be the main obstacle to its use. Since July 2014, the Korean national health insurance (NHI) program began paying 50% of the ITMP implantation cost in select refractory chronic pain patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the financial break-even point and patients' satisfaction in patients with ITMP treatment after the initiation of the NHI reimbursement. Methods: We collected data retrospectively or via direct phone calls to patients who underwent ITMP implantation at a single university-based tertiary hospital between July 2014 and May 2016. Pain severity, changes in the morphine equivalent daily dosage (MEDD), any adverse events, and patients' satisfaction were determined. We calculated the financial break-even point of ITMP implantation via investigating the patient's actual medical costs and insurance information. Results: During the studied period, 23 patients received ITMP implantation, and 20 patients were included in our study. Scores on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain were significantly reduced compared to the baseline value (P < 0.001). The MEDD before ITMP implantation was 0.59 [IQR: 0.55-0.82]. The total MEDD increased steadily to 0.77 [IQR: 0.53-1.08] at 1 year, which was 126% of the baseline (P < 0.001). More than a half (60%) responded that the ITMP therapy was somewhat satisfying. The financial break-even point was 28 months for ITMP treatment after the NHI reimbursement policy. Conclusions: ITMP provided effective chronic pain management with improved satisfaction and reasonable financial break-even point of 28 months with 50% financial coverage by NHI program.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.289-299
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to enhance the NHI claims data-based tuberculosis classification rule of KCDC(Korea centers for disease control & prevention) for an effective TB surveillance system. 8,118 cases, 10% samples of 81,199 TB cases from NHI claims data during 2009, were subject to the Medical Record Survey about whether they are real TB patients. The final study population was 7,132 cases whose medical records were surveyed. The decision tree model was evaluated as the most superior TB patients detection model. This model required the main independent variables of age, the number of anti-tuberculosis drugs, types of medical institution, tuberculosis tests, prescription days, types of TB. This model had sensitivity of 90.6%, PPV of 96.1%, and correct classification rate of 93.8%, which was better than KCDC's TB detection model with two or more NHI claims for TB and TB drugs(sensitivity of 82.6%, PPV of 95%, and correct classification rate of 80%).

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the annual socioeconomic costs of menopausal syndrome treated with oriental medicine in Korea 2008. Methods: Study subjects selected were patients aged 40 years or older who had national health insurance(NHI) claims record with menopausal syndrome(KCDO codes: K04, K04.0, K04.2, K04.3, K04.4) for oriental medicine treatment in 2008. Direct medical cost of oriental medicine treatment for menopausal syndrome were measured from NHI claims records. Direct non-medical costs were estimated as transportation costs incurred when visiting hospitals. Indirect costs were defined as patients' productivity loss associated with office visits or hospitalization. Also, the costs of unpaid-household chores were calculated. Results: The total cost for the oriental medicine treatment of menopausal syndrome in the nation was estimated to be 743,091,219 Korean won(KRW) which included direct costs at 442,971,637 KRW and indirect costs at 300,119,583 KRW. Conclusion: This study provides an important perspective of socioecnomic influence due to menopausal syndrome treated with oriental medicine. And this results can be used as elementary data for menopausal syndrome-related health policy of oriental medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.89-104
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find the determinants for non-participation in health screenings among the disabled. Methods : We used 2014-15 Korea Health Panel data and analyzed 1,073 people with disabilities older than 19 years to investigate the two-year health screening participation rates. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the factors affecting non-participation in health screenings. Results : Of the 1,073 people with disabilities who were analyzed, 29.8% and 27.1% participated in NHI mass screenings and cancer screenings, respectively. In both screenings, non-participation rates were higher in people aged 19-49 and lower in people aged 50 -69 than those aged 70 or older; higher in people with lower education, higher in people with private health insurance; higher in people with fewer chronic diseases; and higher in people with severe disability ratings. Conclusions : People with disabilities should be provided with more appropriate preventive care services according to their disability types and severity compared to people without disabilities.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.226-232
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• 2018

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the current state of governance structure and management of the health system to achieve the goals of the health system in South Korea, and to propose reform plan. This study drew implications from the governance of United Kingdom, Germany, and Netherlands, based on the principle of health system proposed by World Health Organization. The presidency and the health ministry should make macroscopic decision-making. The government has to decentralize the enforcement by municipality to operate public health and national health insurance (NHI), and to distribute the centralized NHI fund by municipality. The front line health centers and community centers should provide integrated health and social services. The government has to establish diversified regulatory bodies to enhance both the patient-centered care and the efficiency and equity of health care, and to provide mechanisms for ensuring autonomy of providers. The governance of the health system should be composed of the centralization of macro decision-making, the decentralization of implementation by municipality, the integration of health and social services on the front line, and the well-balanced regulation and autonomy on both consumers and suppliers.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.13-27
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• 2021

Purpose: We examined the relationship between operating income and volume of medical services provided at general hospitals in 2018 according to characteristics of general hospitals and measured as operating income(net income) and volume(adjusted inpatient days) covered or non-covered by National Health Insurance(NHI). Methodology: Finance data from income statement reports in 212 general hospitals and the national health insurance claim data of these hospitals were used. The characteristics of the general hospital were divided into structural, operational, financial, and patient aspects. Operating income and volume were divided into covered and non-covered by NHI. Findings: The results showed high volume hospitals tended to be more profitable than low volume hospitals, especially in non-covered services. Operating income was more likely to be sensitive to non-covered services volume than to covered services volume. Practical Implications: It is necessary to understand the volume of services in non-covered, in order to obtain reliable cost information to be used for the fee schedule. Researches on small size hospitals(<160 beds) are needed, with a large variation in the volume of services and a strong tendency to compensate for the loss in the covered part in non-covered part.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.50.4-51
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• 2020

We report our discovery of Raman-scattered He II λ6545 feature in young planetary nebulae NGC 6886 and NGC 6881 which indicates the existence of atomic hydrogen components. Considering sharply increasing cross-section of hydrogen atom near the resonance, Raman-scattered He II features are a useful diagnostic tool to investigate the distribution and kinematics of H I region in planetary nebulae. The high-resolution spectroscopic observation was carried out using BOES installed on the 1.8 m telescope of BOAO. We estimate the column density of H I region and its expansion velocity using our grid-based Monte-Carlo radiative transfer code. We assume that the H I region is uniformly distributed in spherical shell geometry with an opening angle and expands with constant speed. Our best-fit model is shown with the column density NHI = 3 × 1020 cm-2 and expansion speed vexp = 25 km s-1 with the opening angle ~ 25° for NGC 6886, and NHI = 4 × 1020 cm-2 and vexp = 30 km s-1 with the opening angle ~ 35° for NGC 6881. We present brief discussions on the late-stage of evolution of stars with mass > 3 M⊙.