Abstract
Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the trend of financial balance of Korean medicine clinics during 20 years, and to provide basic information for adjusting the fee schedule of Korean medicine procedures in national health insurance(NHI). Methods : We collected 6 financial analysis reports for Korean medicine clinics from the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine(AKOM). The data on incomes, costs and EBIT(earning before interests and taxes) of subject clinics were abstracted, and their long-term trends were evaluated. Results : The proportion of insurance income in total income increased from 23% to 56% during 20 years. Among 5 treatment groups, 'non-insurance medication' took up 65~67% of total incomes in 1997, but its proportion decreased to 42.4% in 2007. 'medical procedure, physical therapy and others' increased from 12.4% in 1987 to 29.2% in 2007. The labor cost was major part of total cost and its proportion maintained from 52% to 54%. Cost of 'non-insurance medication' was on the decline from 41% in 1996 to 31.6% in 2007. EBIT were -17.4 million won in 1996, and 18.4 million won in 2007. Conclusions : Financial balance of Korean medicine clinics improved until early 2000, but it became worse in 2007. Though deficits from NHI procedures has been covered up by profit from 'non-insurance medication', health insurance became a major source of income during last two decades.
