• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2007

The medical fee reimbursement denied by HIRA(Health Insurance Review Agency) amounted to about 1.2% of the total medical fee claim to HIRA for reimbursement. Most of the denials stem from the inappropriate prescriptions of medical staff violating the medical fee review standards issued by HIRA. Considering the significant impacts of the standards observance behavior on the hospitals' financial viability, we attempted to analyze the predisposition factors of medical staffs' review standards observance behavior. The TPB(Theory of Planned Behavior) was adopted as the theoretical framework of the analysis. Data were collected by administrating a survey on the concepts included in TPB model to the 187 medical staff of a tertiary care hospital. Of the 187 questionaries distributed, 150 were responded resulting 80.2% of response rate. The mean differences among the groups classified by age group, years of experience, medical specialty and gender were analysis using ANOVA. The relationships among the TPB concepts were analysed by applying the Structural Equations Modeling method. The TPB model consists of three exogenous concepts (attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) and two endogenous concepts (intention and the behavior). The results of ANOVA indicated significant mean differences among the groups classified by the medical staff's age, years of experience, and medical specialty. The older and the more experienced had the higher mean of observance behavior score. The results of Structural Equations analysis showed that the subjective norm and perceived behavioral control had statistically significant influences on intention, but the influence of attitude to intention was not statistically significant. The influences of perceived behavioral control and intention on behavior were significant. Based on these results the theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.807-814
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• 1994

This study is to find out changes in medical practice at a university hospital before and after covering intraocular lens (IOL) from the health insurance benefit. The coverage started on March 1, 1993 and a total of 596 cases who were discharged from July 1 to December 31, 1992 and 580 cases who were discharged from July 1 to December 31, 1993 were analyzed. Since the standard reimbursement scheme was changed from March 1, 1993, the charges for 1992 were transformed into 1993 scheme. Major findings are as follows: Average length of stay was statistically significantly decreased from 8.24 days in 1992 to 6.86 days in 1993. Charges except IOL has been statistically significantly decreased from 501,000 Won in 1992 to 444,000 Won in 1993. Charges for drugs and injection have been reduced. However, charge per day for them was not much different. This is due to decrease in length of stay. Charges for laboratory tests and radiologic examination were quite the same. Charges which are not covered by the insurance remained the same. The revenue of the hospital was reduced as expected. However, the hospital reduced the length of stay and increase the turnover rate In order to compensate the potential loss of revenue due to the difference of reimbursement between the out-of-pocket expense and the insurance coverage. By introducing the IOL benefit in the insurance, the insured pays less, hospital generates more revenue through shortening the hospital stay, and the total medical care cost becomes less nationwidely.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1992

This study compares the physician payment of national fee schedule for Korean Medical Insurance with that of the United States based on Resource Based Relative Value Scales (RBRVS) which Hsiao developed in 1988 for the Medicare reimbursement. Through the comparison of two fees schedules, this study is purposed to evaluate the appropriateness of relative values which assigned to each physician services of Korean fee schedule. A total of 264 physician services are selected for the comparison. The ratio of Korean schedule to RBRVS is selected as an index of appropriateness. It the score of index shows large variation among services, the relative value of Korean fee schedule is inappropriate with U.S. RBRVS which was developed recently. The Ratios of Korean schedule to RBRVS are widly variated ; the range of those is 8.1 to 379.3. In subgroups which are regrouped to controll systematic differences between two national fee schedules, these ratios are also variated. Services which are relatively less compensated are management/evaluation services, while services which are relatively more compensated are invasive and imaging services. By the way, the service classification of Korean fee schedule is unclear, specially in management/evalutaion services. Therefore, Korean Medical Insurance fee schedule should be modified to be more balanced and rational.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.100-124
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• 1997

In order to suggest the strategies for participation in the PPS(Prospective Payment System), analyses were performed based on variations in utilization pattern and changes in revenues of hospitals in 10 selected KDRGs. The data was collected from the claims data of a tertiary hospital in Kyunggido from September 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996. The studies consisted of 1, 718 inpatients diagnosed for lens procedures, tonsilectomy &/or adenoidectomy, appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, Cesarean section, or vaginal delivery without any complications. The resources used in each KDRG were measured including average length of stay, total charges, number of orders, intensity of medical services, frequencies of medical services, the rate of non-reimbursable charges, and the rate of non-reimbursable orders. Then, the changes in hopital revenues due to the composition of medical fee schedules under the PPS were estimated as follows: 1) The variations in average lenght of stay, total charges, number of orders, the intensity of medical services, the frequency of medical services, the rate of non-reimbursable charges, and the rate of non-reimbursable orders among the 10 KDRGs were comparatively small. 2) The average lenght of stay was the longest(6.0 days) for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, while it was the shortest(2.1 days) for two vaginal deliveries. Statistically differences existed in the average length of stay among physicians and among the dates of admission in several KDRGs. 3) The total charges were the highest for lens procedures(1, 716, 000 won), while the lowest charges were for two vaginal deliveries(558, 000 won). Statistically differences in the total charges were found among physicians in several KDRGs: however, there were no differences with the dates of admission. 4) The number of orders was the greatest(155) for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, while it was the smallest(75) for the two vaginal deliveries. Statistical differences in the number of orders did not exist among physicians in the KDRGs. 5) Significant differences were found in the intensity of medical services, and in the frequency of medical services among physicians in the KDRGs. 6) The rate of non-reimbursable charges for each KDRG was not related to the rate of non-reimbursable orders. The rate of non-reimbursable orders was the highest(36.0%) for lens procedures, while the lowest rate(11.6%) was for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis. The rate of non-reimbursable charges was the highest(39.4-39.7%) for vaginal deliveries, while the lowest rate(13.1%) was for tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy(<17 ages). 7) If the physician's practicing style were not change under the PPS, the hospital revenuses could be increased by 10%, and the portion of patient payment could be decreased by 1.4-22.4%. However, the non-reimbursable charges for showed little change between two reimbursement systems. Based upon the above findings, this hospital could be eligible for participation in the PPS(Prospective Payment Systm). However, the process of diagnosis and treatment should be standardized, inentifying methods to reduce cost and to assure quality of medical care. Furthermore, consideration should be given to finding ways to increase patient volume.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2021

There are very scant data on the epidemiology of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) in Korea. Here we attempted to estimate the PID epidemiology and disease burden in Korea. A systematic review was performed of studies retrieved from the PubMed, KoreaMed, and Google Scholar databases. Studies on PIDs published in Korean or English between January 2001 and November 2018 were analyzed. The number of PID patients and the healthcare costs were estimated from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Korea data for 2017. A total of 398 PID patients were identified from 101 reports. Immunodeficiencies affecting cellular and humoral immunity were reported in 11 patients, combined immunodeficiency with associated or syndromic features in 40, predominantly antibody deficiencies in 144, diseases of immune dysregulation in 58, congenital defects of phagocytes in 104, defects in the intrinsic and innate immunity in 1, auto-inflammatory disorders in 4, complement deficiencies in 36, and phenocopies of PID in none. From the HIRA reimbursement data, a total of 1,162 outpatients and 306 inpatients were treated for 8,166 and 6,149 days, respectively. In addition, reimbursement was requested for 8,200 outpatient and 1,090 inpatient cases and $1,924,000 and $4,715,000 were reimbursed in 2017, respectively. This study systematically reviewed published studies on PID and analyzed the national open data system of the HIRA to estimate the disease burden of PID, for the first time in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.339-348
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• 2003

Objective : To quantify the economic value of the Sirolimus fluting Stent ($CYPHER^{TM}$) in treating acute coronary heart disease (CMD), and to assist in determining an adequate level of reimbursement for $CYPHER^{TM}$ in Korea. Methods : A decision-analytical model, developed by the Belgium Health Economics Disease Management group, was used to investigate the incremental cost-effectiveness of $CYPHER^{TM}$ versus conventional stenting. The time horizon was five years. The probabilities for clinical events at each node of the decision model were obtained from the results of large, randomized, controlled clinical trials. The initial care and follow-up direct medical costs were analyzed. The initial costs consisted of those for the initial procedure and hospitalization, The follow-vp costs included those for routine follow-up treatments, adverse reactions, revascularization and death. Defending on the perspective of the analysis, the costs were defined as insurance covered or total medical costs (=sum of insurance covered and uncovered medical costs). The cost data were obtained from the administrative data of 449 patients that received conventional stenting from five participating Korean hospitals during June 2002. Sensitivity analyses were peformed for discount rates of 3, 5 and 7%. Since the major clinical advantage of $CYPHER^{TM}$ over conventional stenting was the reduction in the revascularization rates, the economic value of $CYPHER^{TM}$, in relation to the direct medical costs of revascularization, were evaluated. If the incremental cost of $CYPHER^{TM}$ per revascularization avoided, compared to conventional stenting, was no higher than that of a revascularization itself, $CYPHER^{TM}$ would be considered as being cost-effective. Therefore, the maximum acceptable level for the reimbursement price of $CYPHER^{TM}$ making the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio equal to the cost of a revascularization was identified. Results : The average weighted initial insurance covered and total medical costs of conventional stenting were about 6,275,000 and 8,058,000 Won, respectively. The average weighted sum of the initial and 5-year follow-up insurance covered and total medical costs of conventional stenting were about 13,659,000 and 17,353,000 Won, respectively. The estimated maximum level of reimbursement price of $CYPHER^{TM}$ from the perspectives of the insurer and society were $4,126,897{\sim}4,325,161$ and $4,939,939{\sim}5,078,181$ Won, respectively. Conclusion : By evaluating the economic value of $CYPHER^{TM}$, as an alternative to conventional stenting, the results of this study are expected to provide a scientific basis for determining the acceptable level of reimbursement for $CYPHER^{TM}$.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.29-57
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• 2001

Since the inauguration of the medical insurance system in 1977, the increasing medical expenses which can be menace to tile finance of the medical insurance system, have become major concern in the medical insurance field In Korea. This study focuses on the determinants of the medical expenses in the health insurance in Korea and analyzes the impact of these factors on the increase in the medical expenses. The empirical work is done using the pooled cross-section and time-series data of the medical insurance for the self-employeds and the industrial workers from the year 1995 to 1997. The result of this study shows that the main determinants of the medical expenses in the health insurance are the ratio of the population of the aged to the total population, the frequency of the utilization, number of doctors per capita and the regime changes. Although the increasing trend in the medical expenses seems to be unavoidable, we probably need to add some efficiency to the medical expenses by suppressing the supply and the utilization of the unnecessary medical services. The fee-for-service reimbursement system of today can't suppress the supply of the unnecessary medical services effectively. So we need to convert the present fee-for-service system into DRG's which is known to reduce the medical costs. The increase in the medical expenses comes from a lot of factors. Therefore, we should develop more systematic and comprehensive measures to control the soaring medical expenses in consideration of the various factors such as demand, supply, and the organizational side of the medical system.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the actual condition of the occurrence and recovery of medical expenses through seafarers insurance and to provide basic data that will be helpful in the establishment of efficient hospital management strategies for medical expenses of insurance companies depending on the type of seafarers insurance. Methods : Three general hospitals located in Busan, Korea, were selected, and seafarers insurance claim data was collected from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013(24 months) and analyzed. There were 5,490 cases in total. Results : There was a significant difference in the distribution of disease incidence, accrued medical expenses, reimbursement of medical expenses, and the actual condition of medical receivables depending on the insurance company. Conclusions : Therefore, differentiated payback strategies for medical expenses are needed that consider the various seafarers insurance companies and their treatment characteristics.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-96
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• 2010

Objectives : This paper recommends a global budget based payment system for reimbursing oriental medical services in the national health insurance. Methods : We analyzed previous research outcomes related to oriental medical services and payment system We reviewed the experiences of other countries' global budget system in terms of their strength and weakness. In addition, we developed a reimbursement method for oriental medical services based on global budget. Results : Our reviews focused on global budget system of Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Taiwan. The estimation of global budget in the national health insurance was described in two scenarios. First scenario was to allocate oriental medical services in scale after signing a contract for global budget. In this case, 4.16% of the national health insurance expenditure was allocated for the oriental medical services. Second scenario was to estimate the global budget in a historical context. As a result, the first scenario in total budget was higher than the second, and we proposed a retrospective adjustment method for the gap between the budget and the actual expenditure Conclusions : The payment system for oriental medical services is recommended to shift from fee-for-service to global budget.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.423-436
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• 2021

This article summarizes the structure of China's current social health insurance system and reviews the development status of China's private health insurance (PHI). China's medical security system is mainly composed of two parts: basic medical insurance (BMI) and PHI. Among them, the BMI provides reimbursement of basic medical expenses for the insured persons according to different proportions. PHI is a necessary supplement to the BMI and provides assistance to the insured persons in the event of illness or accident. By having PHI, people can obtain medical protection outside the coverage of BMI. In the development of PHI in China, the total medical cost is high and the insurance market size is large, but the proportion of PHI expenditure is low and the personal burden is high. Through this Chinese case, it will be helpful for mutual development between Korean PHI and national health insurance, for Korean insurance companies to enter the Chinese market, and for removing the medical burden on the people.