• Health Policy and Management
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.130-137
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• 2019

The fee-for-service system is used as the main payment system for health care providers in Korea. It has been argued that it can't reflect differences in the medical practice costs across regions because the fee schedule is calculated based on the average cost. So, some researchers and providers have disputed that there is need for adopting geographic practice cost index (GPCI) used in the United States for the Medicare program for the elderly to the fee-for-service payment system. This study performed to identify whether the difference in the practice costs among regions exists or not and to examine the feasibility of applying GPCI to Korea payment system. For this purpose, we calculated modified-GPCI and examined considerations to introduce GPCI in Korea. First we identified available data to calculate GPCI. Second, we made applicable GPCI equations to Korea payment system and computed it based on four types of regions (metropolitan, urban, suburban, and rural). We also categorize the regions based on the availability of the medical resources and the capability of utilizing them. As a result, we found that there wasn't any significant difference in the GPCI by regional types in general, but the indices of rural areas (0.91-0.98) was relatively low compared to the indices of other regions (0.96-1.07). Considering the need to use GPCI floor, the pros and cons of using GPCI, and the concern of the regional imbalance of resources, the introduction of GPCI needs to be carefully considered.

• Health Policy and Management
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1-25
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• 2007

Relative value scales introduced in 2001 remarkably improved health insurance fee schedule, but current relative value scales have many problems. In the beginning the government intended to introduce 'resource based relative value scales(RBRVSs)' like USA, but political adjustment of RBRVS studied in 19.17 weakened the relationship between relative value scale and resource consumption. So unbalance of health insurance fees are existing till now. Also relative value was not divided to physician work and practice expense, and malpractice fee was not divided separately. To correct the unbalance of current relative value scales, the refinement project of health insurance relative value scales started in 2003. The project team divided relative value scales into three components, which are physician work, practice expense, malpractice fee. Physician work was studied by professional organizations like Korean medical association. To develop the practice expense relative value, project team organized clinical practice expert panels(CPEPs) composed of physicians, nurses, and medical technicians. CPEPs constructed direct expense data like labor costs, material costs, equipment costs about each medical procedures. The practice expense relative values of medical procedures were developed by the allocation of the institution level direct & indirect costs according to CPEPs direct costs. Institution level direct & indirect costs were collected in 21 hospitals, 98 medical clinics, 53 dental clinics, 78 oriental clinics, and 46 pharmacies. The malpractice fee relative values were developed through the survey of malpractice related costs of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies. Putting together three components of relative values in one scale, the final relative values were made. The final relative values were calculated under budget neutrality by medical departments, that is, total relative value score of a department was same before and after the revision. but malpractice fee relative value scores were added to total scores of relative values. So total score of a department was increased by the malpractice fee relative value score of that department This project failed in making 'resource based' relative value scales in the true sense of the word, because the total relative value scores of medical departments were fixed. However the project team constructed the objective basis of relative value scale like physician's work, direct practice expense, malpractice fee. So step by step making process of the basis, the fixation of total scores by the departments will be resolved and the resource based relative value scale will be introduced in true sense.

• Health Policy and Management
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.17-39
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• 2010

This study explored the impact on the DRG(Diagnosis-Related Groups)-based prospective payment system(PPS) operated by voluntarily participation providers. We analyzed whether the provides in the DRG-based PPS and in traditional fee-for-service(FFS) systems showed different the degree of variation in length of stay(LOS), and the providers' behaviors depending on the differences according to the varied participation periods. The study sample included all data 2,061 institutions participated in DRG-PPS in 2007 and all cases 473 FFS institutions which reported fee-for-service claims were reviewed same diagnosized diseases at least 10cases claims during three months We compared the differences of the LOS among health care institutions according to their type, region, and size. For DRGs showing significant differences in LOS, multiple regression analyses were performed to find out factors associated with LOS and interaction effect participation and hospital types or participation periods. The result provide the evidence that the DRG payment system operated by volunteering health care institutions had impact on resources use, which can reduce the institutions' the length of stay. While some DRGs had no correlation between participation periods and LOS, other DRGs, DRG participation period reversely linear relationship with LOS. That is to say, the longer participation year, the less reducing the LOS. These results support the future expansion of the DRG-based PPS plan to all health care services in Korea.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.119-133
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• 2016

This paper is designed to study how public values of viewers impact on the necessity of public service broadcasters and the willingness to payment of TV license fee based on the public-opinion survey regarding raising KBS TV license fee which was submitted to the National Assembly in 2013. To investigate this influence, seven main projects presented by KBS are classified into five public values of public (service) broadcasters such as quality, diversity, universality, social value and global value. The seven key performance tasks were presented by KBS. The study results are summarized as follows. Firstly, the survey group who selected the digital welfare enlargement by free terrestrial multi-channel broadcasting among public values recognized as highest the necessity of public service broadcasting as the most highly. Secondly, regarding the question of raising license fee, 72.4 percent of respondents were in favor of 1,000 won and 43.9 percent of respondents were in favor of 1,500 won. The result of this study shows that public service broadcasting has the possibility of securing the legitimacy of license fee policy when public service broadcasters faithfully carry out the five public values as above.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.49-75
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• 2022

This paper analyzes how franchise contract conditions are influenced by business structures as well as how contract conditions affect producer surplus by utilizing Korean franchise Information Disclosure Documents for the years 2014-2016. We find that franchise fees tend to increase in line with increases in the numbers of direct stores or the business period. Accordingly, it would be reasonable to check whether the franchise fee is excessive compared to the amount of reputation capital rather than to criticize the absolute level of the franchise fee. Regarding royalty contracts, the larger the discount in the raw materials purchase is, the higher the initial royalty is. Although this appears to be a royalty discount, it can be a means of inducing a raw materials purchase contract by initially setting a high royalty rate and then lowering it after the purchase contract is signed. Concerning the effect on producer surplus, the results show that an increase in franchise fees and royalties negatively affects the franchisee's operating profits but positively affects those of the franchisor's, leading to conflicts over the distribution of economic value added. Based on the findings here, we propose various policy recommendations, specifically reinforcing the contents in the Information Disclosure Document, further activating fixed-rate royalties, and strengthening the qualifications of franchisors when recruiting franchisees.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.36-44
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• 2015

The Activity Based Costing(ABC) means the process that makes clear how the actions and input resources have changed into service to calculate medical services costs. These days, the number of hospital which is using the ABC system is increasing to make their policy decision making efficient and run the hospitals more resonable. This study analyzes the unbalance in the level of health insurance service fee and the improvement plans based from 8 hospitals(ABC system) and 95 clinics(ABC survey). The cost recovery ratio has shown different levels according to each service type. A surgery service type recorded 76.8% and an evaluation & management service type is 84.6%, a treatment procedure type(85.8%), a function test type(91.6%) and health insurance fee even did not reach to the original cost. Meanwhile, a laboratory test type and imaging test type show high level of cost recovery ratio. they recorded 188.3% and 158.8%. Resultingly now of unbalance in the level of health insurance service fee accelerates supply of every test. so there is a need to make laboratory test type and imaging test type lower to keep balance with the surgery and medical service. These methods should be performed gradually with monitoring the unbalance fee ratio and for this, a panel medical institution have to be established for generalizations of studying result, fairness of selecting researching sample.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.182-195
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• 2008

Purpose: Hospice care represents all meaningful aspects of physical, mental and economical status of the end stage patients. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of home-based hospice care. Method: Fifteen nurses participated in counting an hour for requirement and home visit data of 50 end stage patients were analyzed. The method of to estimate the cost of home-based hospice care was three ways. Result: In case, including traffic expense, Singles fixed fee per visit via direct inquiry was 112,970 won but in case, excluding traffic expenses, was 86,036 won and traffic expenses per visit was 26,934 won. Final cost of home-based hospice care integrated the fixed fee per the needed time for visit and fee-for services. The fixed fee per 30 minutes was 35,251 won and 60 minutes was 46,595 won and 90 minutes was 57,939 won. We included pain management and the management of emergency and bereavement care among fee-for services. Conclusion: The cost of hospice care should be establish for not only patient but the living spouse, families, and children of the dying and for anyone else affected by any patient's death.

• Health Policy and Management
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.1-30
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• 2009

Korean medical fee contract system between the insurer and healthproviders was introduced in 2000. However, a continuous discord among contracting parties concerned and an irrational operation of an arbitration committee of Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs (MIHWAF) have made it difficult for them to reach to an agreement over last 8 years. The purpose of this study is to observe the current problems of contract system from the view of health insurance law and actual examples. Furthermore, I examined the of breakdown of negotiation by analyzing the eligibility of contracting parties, rationality of Resource Based Relative Value System (RBRVS) and contracting method and fairness of arbitration method in case of negotiation rupture. The results were as follows: First, since the introduction of medical fee contract system, there has been a problem in that both the president of National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) and health care provider association have not held strong negotiation power. Second, the frequent changes and notifications of Relative Value Units (RVUs) without any mutual consent between the insurer and provider association negatively have influenced the conversion factors and finally hindered the agreement of contract. Third, a current process that the conversion factors are mediated and determined at the arbitration committee of MIHWAF in the case of contract breakdown between contracting parties has some flaw in that the irrational composition of committee provoked the lack of fairness and objectivity of mediation. Fourth, we can not prospect a satisfactory outcome of arbitration committee because the mediation always has failed to proceed smoothly due to boycott of both committee members from insurer and providers over last 8 years. As a result, we have to make an every effort to resolve problems mentioned above and then dream of an advanced national health insurance system.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.65-73
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• 2005

After the introduction of Volume-based Waste Fee System for municipal wastes, the disposal of food wastes became an issue an issue in society. Concerted efforts among government agencies have been made to manage food wastes separately from municipal wastes. For example, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare established the '5-year('98-'02) Basic Plan for Recycling Food Wastes' in September 1998. Also changes in the waste disposal system has been sought, aiming at the Resource-circulating Society.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-27
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• 1993

The purpose of this paper is to suggest issues of South and North Korea's common fisheries policy that is expected to be realized in the process of economic integration between the two countries. The paper has shown feasible policy alternatives of fisheries cooperation according to the steps of economic integration between the two countries. The paper has examined the possibilities and economic effects of several policy alternatives as follows : South Korea's fishing in North Korea's fishing area with fishing fee, limited reciprocal fishing in the opposite countrie's fishing zone, joint, ventures between two countries, and South and Nort Korea's common fisheries policy.