• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 2013

Purpose: Korean health insurance extended application of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) payment system to tertiary and general hospitals from July, 2013. This study was done to develop a DRG fee adjustment mechanism applied to levels of nurse staffing to assure quality nursing service. Methods: Nurse stafffing grades among hospitals in Korea were analyzed. Differences and ratio of inpatient costs by nurse staffing grades in DRG fees and differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were compared. Results: In 2013, nurse staffing grades in tertiary and general hospitals had improved, but other hospital nurse staffing grades remained at the 2001 level. Gaps of inpatient costs between first and seventh nurse staffing grades were over 10% in 4 out of 7 DRG diagnosis; However differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were only 4.51% and 4.72% respectively. A DRG fee adjustment mechanism was developed that included nurse staffing grades and hospitalization days as factors of the formula. Conclusion: Current DRG fees motivate hospitals to decrease nurse staffing grades because cost reduction is bigger than compensation. This DRG fee adjustment mechanism reflects nurse staffing supply to motivate hospitals to hire more nurses as a reasonable compensation system.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.105-117
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate evaluation and improvement of long-term care hospitals for changing long-term care hospitals fee system. Data were collected from 104 CEOs in nationwide long-term care hospitals using structured self-administered questionnaires during August 17 to 31, 2009. Major results of the empirical analysis are as follows; first, to change fixed sum medical fee per day caused to decline the level of geriatric service in 87% of CEOs. Second, 79% of CEOs were dissatisfied with changing fixed sum medical fee per day, and 47% of them were dissatisfied with graded fee for doctor and nurse management. Finally, they suggested that to specialize and to differentiate of long-term care hospitals will drive to improve long-term care hospitals function and to measure workforce based on rate of filled vacancies will increase efficiency and productivity of doctor and nurse management.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.275-288
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform an economic analysis and estimate the fee for the practices that carried out by Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) using relative value scale (RVS) and its conversion factor. Methods: First, we developed ENP's RVS for 25 advanced nursing services based on ENP's workload and its time spent by survey. A cost analysis was performed to evaluate the conversion factor of ENP's RVS. The share of ENP's contribution to fee-for-service in emergency setting was also analyzed. Results: Calculation of the RVS of 25 advanced nursing practices showed a range of points from 73.4 to 296.3 and an average of 145.1 points. The relevant conversion factor for advanced nursing practices among ENP was estimated at 12.2~15.9 won. The contribution rate of ENP's advanced nursing practices in the relative value scale of the national health insurance was estimated at 13.1~17.0%. Conclusion: The practices of ENP are not compensated separately and its reimbursement is usually included in physician fee. An estimation of nursing fee and an independent fee related to ENP's services shows the contribution rate to total revenue. It suggests that emergency nurse practitioners be considered as a revenue source the in emergency room.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.574-583
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• 2009

Purpose: This paper analyzed alternative methods of calculating the conversion factor for nurse-midwife's delivery services in the national health insurance and estimated the optimal reimbursement level for the services. Methods: A cost accounting model and Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) model were developed to estimate the conversion factor of Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) for nurse-midwife's services, depending on the scope of revenue considered in financial analysis. The data and sources from the government and the financial statements from nurse-midwife clinics were used in analysis. Results: The cost accounting model and SGR model showed a 17.6-37.9% increase and 19.0-23.6% increase, respectively, in nurse-midwife fee for delivery services in the national health insurance. The SGR model measured an overall trend of medical expenditures rather than an individual financial status of nurse-midwife clinics, and the cost analysis properly estimated the level of reimbursement for nurse-midwife's services. Conclusion: Normal vaginal delivery in nurse-midwife clinics is considered cost-effective in terms of insurance financing. Upon a declining share of health expenditures on midwife clinics, designing a reimbursement strategy for midwife's services could be an opportunity as well as a challenge when it comes to efficient resource allocation.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the current fees for nursing care and propose the strategies for improvement. Method: The number of subjects for this study was 86, including 36 chief executives of the nursing department, 14 of the health insurance department and 33 nursing managers. Data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0 program. A researcher-developed questionnaire with 30 items was utilized. Results: 61% hospital had improved the nursing management fee grade after adoption of the differentiated nursing management fee schedules. After grade improvement, the time for direct nursing care increased. Also, the patient health outcome, nurse's job satisfaction were improved and more nurses were employed in general nursing units. Many subjects addressed that ICU and more nursing units were needed to adopt the differentiated nursing management fee schedules and "bed to nurse ratio" needed to be changed to "patients to nurse ratio" and specialized by the nursing units. Conclusion: The health policy in reference to fees for nursing care needs to get improved further in order to provide the quality-assured nursing care.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.61-76
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• 1993

This study was done in order La provide basic data to a Fee System for hospital based Home Health Care services in Korea in the future. It was done by investigating activities provided to possible Home Health Care clients who could be discharged early from genera] hospitals and then estimating the nursing care fee according to each nursing activity based upon the time used for activity. The subjects of the study were selected by convenience sampling and consisted of 35 clients who might be clients for Home Nursing Care and were presently admitted to a medical- surgical ward of Y University Medical Center located in Seoul, Korea. The data collection period was from September 1, 1991 to September 30, 1991. The research in strum nets utilized for the study were a client selection criterial for Home Health Care developed by Choo(l991) and a check-list of nursing activity developed by researcher. The results of the study were as follows : 1. There were 44 different nursing activities provided in the seven days but the time was calculated for only 25 of the nursing activities. 2. Fees for the 25 different nursing activities were calculated by multipling the median of the average wage of a staff nurse having five years experience in an A grade general hospital to the Lime of the nursing activity. The results were compared with the insurance fee which the government recognized as an appropriate fee for that activity. The nursing activities with a lower calculated fee than the insurance fee were suction, catheterization, exercise education and dressing change. The nursing activities with a higher calculated fee than the government recognized fee were 1M injection and vital sign check. 3. There was a range of 1-15 nursing activities provided daily to the client. For the average number of nursing activities per day of 6.26 events the nursing care fee was calaulated at W 6136 per day. 4. Based upon the results of the study, a recommentdation for a Home Health Care fee per visit based on the nursing activities provided could be formulated for a Home Health Care fee system. It could be formulated as following: 1) Home health Care fee per visit $=[(direct{\;} nursing{\;}fee(direct{\;}nursing{\;}care{\;}time{\;}per{\;}activity{\;}{\times}{\;}average{\;}nursing{\;}wage)+indirect fee]{\times}average$ nursing activity per visit]+management fee+ materials fee+a travel fee In this way a nursing fee could be calculated based upon the result of the study of the nursing fees per visit. 2) Nursing activity fees per visit. = $([direct nursing{\;}care{\;}fee+indirect{\;}nursing{\;}fee]{\times}average$ number of nursing activities provided per visit] (W 6, 136) + travel fee(\ 5, 542) +management fee material $fee({\alpha})\{\;}16, 436+{\alpha}$ The nursing fee per visit as calculated in this research of $\{\;}15, 0000+{\alpha}$ could be adjusted according to the patient's condition or the use of high technology nursing care or according to the amount of time spent for travel. The nursing care fee per visit presented in this study can be validated through a Home Health Care demonstration project.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.122-136
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attempted to recommend a revision of inpatient nursing fees based on analyzing current and appropriate staffing levels. Methods: Staffing grades and their inpatient nursing fees as of the first quarter of 2022 were analyzed. Nurse managers and staff nurses answered surveys about the current and appropriate staffing levels, working days, and monthly salary. A total of 101 nurse managers and 588 staff nurses working in general wards at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals participated in the study. Results: The results showed that grade 1 staffing was found in 73.3% of tertiary hospitals and 63.7% of general hospitals. The current staffing ratios of tertiary hospitals and general hospitals were 1:9.3 and 1:10.4, respectively. The appropriate staffing ratios according to nurse managers and staff nurses at tertiary hospitals were 1:7.6 and 1:7.0, respectively, and 1:8.7 and 1:8.8 in general hospitals, respectively. The average estimated annual working days of staff nurses were 235.2 days in tertiary hospitals and 240.0 days in general hospitals. The median monthly salary for staff nurses was 4.957 million won in tertiary hospitals and 4.140 million won in general hospitals. The new staffing grade system was suggested from 1:6 (Grade 1) to 1:12 (Grade 5). The new inpatient nursing fee schedules were recommended to be paid based on nursing hours per patient day of each grade. Conclusion: The new staffing grade and inpatient nursing fee schedules are expected to increase staffing levels, improve the quality of nursing care, and provide a better work environment for nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.351-360
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose optimal hospitalization fees for nurse staffing levels and to improve the current nursing fee policy. Methods: A break-even analysis was used to evaluate the impact of a nursing fee policy on hospital's financial performance. Variables considered included the number of beds, bed occupancy rate, annual total patient days, hospitalization fees for nurse staffing levels, the initial annual nurses' salary, and the ratio of overhead costs to nursing labor costs. Data were collected as secondary data from annual reports of the Hospital Nursing Association and national health insurance. Results: The hospitalization fees according to nurse staffing levels in general hospitals are required to sustain or decrease in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and increase in grades 5 and 6. It is suggested that the range between grade 2 and 3 be sustained at the current level, the range between grade 4 and 5 be widen or merged into one, and the range between grade 6 and 7 be divided into several grades. Conclusion: Readjusting hospitalization fees for nurse staffing level will improve nurse-patient ratio and enhance the quality of nursing care in hospitals. Follow-up studies including tertiary hospitals and small hospitals are recommended.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop the optimal nursing fee for nurse-midwifery center (MC) in the national health insurance system. Methods: The three methodologies used to calculate the conversion factors for the MCs in the national health insurance include cost accounting method, sustainable growth rate (SGR) model, and index model. In this study, the macro-economic indicators and the national statistics were used to estimate the conversion factors for the MCs. Results: The optimal nursing fee for the MCs in 2011 was estimated to be an increase of 57.7% by cost accounting analysis, a decrease of 17.1% by SGR model, and a decrease of 16.1% by index model. The results from SGR model and index model could had been biased due to the upswing of medical spendings in the short-term period (2008~2009). A sensitivity analysis of pre-delivery subsidy program for OB & GYN hospitals and clinics showed that the program has substantially diminished the demand for the MC services. Conclusion: More reliable methodologies to estimate nursing fees precisely are required to prove the value of nurses' services and a government subsidy program for the MC services should be followed from a social perspective.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.565-577
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to propose an improvement in the Nursing Fee Differentiation Policy to alleviate polarization of nursing staffing level among hospitals and to rectify the confusion of legally mandated standards between the Korean Medical Law and National Health Insurance Act. Methods: The policy regulation was reconstructed related to nurse staffing standards and nurse-to-patients ratios. Data on nurse staffing grades were obtained from database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) for the third quarter of 2010 for 44 tertiary hospitals, 274 general hospitals, and 1,262 hospitals. A break-even analysis was used to estimate financial burden of the revised policy improvement proposal. An industrial engineering method was used to calculate Nurse-to-Patients ratios per shift. Results: Twelve tertiary hospitals were downgraded. 74 general hospitals and 102 hospitals were upgraded after application of the regulation. Finances for total hospitalization expenditures changed from -3.55% to +3.14%. Conclusion: The results indicate that the proposed policy would decrease polarization between tertiary hospitals and small hospitals, and would not put a major strain on the finances of the Korean National Health Insurance. Therefore, it is suggested that government stake-holders and many interest groups consider this policy proposal and build a consensus.