• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.21-44
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• 1988

In Korea, fee-for service reimbursement has been adopted from the begining of medical insurance system in 1977, and the importance of the relative value unit is currently being investigated. The purpose of this study was to find out the level of propriety of the difference in the fees for different surgical services, and the appropriateness of the classification of the insurance fee schedule. For the purpose of this study, specific subjects and the procedural methodology is shown as follows: 1. The propriety of the Relative Price System(RPS). 1) Choice of sample operations. In this study, sample operations were selected and classified by specialists in general surgery, and the number of items they classified were 32. For the same group of operations the Insurance Fee Schedule(IFS) classified the operations into 24 separate items. In order to investigate the propriety of the RPS, one of the purpose of this study, was to examine the 24 items classified by the IFS. 2) Evaluation of the complexity of surgery. The data used in this study was collected The data used in this study was collected from 94 specialists in general surgery by mail survey from November I to 15, 1986. Several independent variables (age, location, number of bed, university hospital, whether the medical institution adopt residents or not) were also investigated for analysis of the characteristics of surgical complexity. 3) Complexity and time calculations. Time data was collected from the records of the Seoul National University' Hospital, and the cost per operation was calculated through cost finding methods. 4) Analysis of the propriety of the Relative Price System of the Insurance Fee Schedule. The Relative Price System of the sample operation was regressed on the cost, time, comlexity relative ,value system (RVS) separately. The coefficient of determination indicates the degree of variation in the RPS of the Insurance Fee Schedule explained by the cost, time, complexity RVS separately. 2. The appropriateness of the classification of the Insurance Fee Schedule. 1) Choice of sample operations. The items which differed between the classification of the specialist and the classification of medical, Insurance Fee Schedule were chosen. 2) Comparisons of cost, time and complexity between the items were done to evaluate which classification was more appropriate. The findings of the study can be summarized as follows: 1. The coefficient of determination of the regression of the RPS on-cost RVS was 0.58, on time RVS was 0.65, and on complexity RVS was 0.72. This means that the RPS of Insurance Fee Schedule is improper with respect to the cost, time, complexity separately. Thus this indicates that RPS must be re-shaped according to the standard element. In this study, the correlation coefficients of cost, time, complexity Relative Value System were very high, and this suggests that RPS could be reshaped I according to anyone standard element. Considering of measurement, time was thought to be the most I appropriate. 2. The classifications of specialist and of the Insurance Fee Schedule were compared with respect to cost, time, and complexity separately. For complexity, ANOVA was done and the others were compared to the different values of different classifications. The result was that the classification of specialist was more reasonable and that the classification of Insurance Fee Schedule grouped inappropriately several into one price unit.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.140-143
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• 2018

Background: The Occupational Safety and Health Monitoring and Assessment Tool (OSH-MAT) is a practical instrument that is currently used in the German woodworking and metalworking industries to monitor safety conditions at workplaces. The 12-item scoring system has three subscales rating technical, organizational, and personnel-related conditions in a company. Each item has a rating value ranging from 1 to 9, with higher values indicating higher standard of safety conditions. Methods: The reliability of this instrument was evaluated in a cross-sectional survey among 128 companies and its validity among 30,514 companies. The inter-rater reliability of the instrument was examined independently and simultaneously by two well-trained safety engineers. Agreement between the double ratings was quantified by the intraclass correlation coefficient and absolute agreement of the rating values. The content validity of the OSH-MAT was evaluated by quantifying the association between OSH-MAT values and 5-year average injury rates by Poisson regression analysis adjusted for the size of the companies and industrial sectors. The construct validity of OSH-MAT was examined by principle component factor analysis. Results: Our analysis indicated good to very good inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.64-0.74) of OSH-MAT values with an absolute agreement of between 72% and 81%. Factor analysis identified three component subscales that met exactly the structure theory of this instrument. The Poisson regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant exposure-response relationship between OSH-MAT values and the 5-year average injury rates. Conclusion: These analyses indicate that OSH-MAT is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used effectively to monitor safety conditions at workplaces.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.63-70
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• 2009

Objectives: Work stress is associated with increased risk of fatigue. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of work stress and fatigue among Medical Insurance Review Nurses. Methods: The subjects of this study were 117 nurses in charge of medical insurance review. A structured questionnaires were employed to evaluate the nurses' sociodemographics, work stress and fatigue. The data were analysed through frequency, percentile, mean, standard deviation, Chronbach's $\alpha$, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: Mean scores of work stress and fatigue of participants were 3.29 and 1.97 respectively. Work stress was correlated with fatigue significantly (r=.39). There were effects on fatigue by work performance satisfaction and the frequency of insurance request among sociodemographics. Job conflicts with doctors which was a domain of work stress was increased fatigue. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that work performance satisfaction, the frequency of insurance request and job conflicts with doctors are significant predictors of fatigue. Thus, a strategy to enhance nurses' work environment and to reduce work stress through developing interpersonal relationship is recommended.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.375-390
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• 2017

Objectives : In order to increase the utilization rate of insurance covered herbal medicines, it is necessary to improve the standard prescription lists of current national health insurance service. Methods : Previous research and discussions have been summarized, the cases of overseas insurance prescription were investigated, and compared with the insurance prescription of Korea. We conducted two questionnaire surveys. From the first email questionnaire survey, response rate was very low. So once again, from december 4, 2014 to december 17, we emailed a questionnaire survey to 17,275 members of the Korean medicine doctors and 890 peoples(5.1%) responded for two weeks. We analyzed prescriptions from previous studies, overseas cases, and surveys. Results : With overseas herbal medicine health insurance lists, prescriptions recommended by the experts committee, the prescriptions results of the first and second surveys, and the prescriptions presented in previous studies, we compared and analyzed all the results and we derived 202 prescriptions for NHIS. Conclusion: We suggest 127 Single extracts and 202 prescriptions to be added for NHI.

• 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.

• 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 Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2016

Backgrounds : Taiwan has similar national health insurance (NHI) system for traditional medicine with South Korea. Recently, new quality improvement policies for traditional medicine is being attempted in Taiwan. Objectives : This study aimed to review the Taiwanese NHI system for Chinese Medicine (CM) and introduce quality improvement policies. Methods : Research articles, reports, government publications and year books which handled traditional medicine system and NHI system in Taiwan were searched and collected. The authors analyzed and summarized the contents in a qualitative manner. Results : In Taiwanese NHI system, CM procedures and medication for outpatients are reimbursed through a mix of fee-for-service and global budget payment system. CM shares 4% of total expenditure of NHI in Taiwan. Mostly, the expenses for procedures are reimbursed regardless of disease type, however, in the specialized program for quality improvement, CM doctors have to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Conclusions : Taiwanese NHI system implemented SOP-based new reimbursement system for CM. Yet, the scientific evidences for SOPs are not sufficient, it can be useful references when we develope disease related reimbursement system for Korean Medicine in South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2009

Objectives : To compare the performance of three comorbidity measurements (Charlson comorbidity index, Elixhauser s comorbidity and comorbidity selection) with the effect of different comorbidity lookback periods when predicting in-hospital mortality for patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods : This was a retrospective study on patients aged 40 years and older who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. To distinguish comorbidity from complications, the records of diagnosis were drawn from the National Health Insurance Database excluding diagnosis that admitted to the hospital. C-statistic values were used as measures for in comparing the predictability of comorbidity measures with lookback period, and a bootstrapping procedure with 1,000 replications was done to determine approximate 95% confidence interval. Results : Of the 61,815 patients included in this study, the mean age was 63.3 years (standard deviation: ${\pm}$10.2) and 64.8% of the population was male. Among them, 1,598 2.6%) had died in hospital. While the predictive ability of the Elixhauser's comorbidity and comorbidity selection was better than that of the Charlson comorbidity index, there was no significant difference among the three comorbidity measurements. Although the prevalence of comorbidity increased in 3 years of lookback periods, there was no significant improvement compared to 1 year of a lookback period. Conclusions : In a health outcome study for patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using National Health Insurance Database, the Charlson comorbidity index was easy to apply without significant difference in predictability compared to the other methods. The one year of observation period was adequate to adjust the comorbidity. Further work to select adequate comorbidity measurements and lookback periods on other diseases and procedures are needed.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.57
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• pp.305-331
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• 2013

The purpose of this study aims to the improvement prospect of green insurance industry in Korea. Green insurance includes all classes of general insurance business including unoccupied property insurance and empty building insurance, business insurance, personal insurance, etc. Green policies often cover expensive systems that are not covered under most property policies. The same is true for some underground property, which is also exempted from many property policies. At least insurers already offer products designed to fund rebuilding damaged properties to meet certain environmental and building standards. While the products are in their infancy, insurers and brokers say the huge interest in environmental issues will increase demand. Green buildings that improve energy efficiency and air quality and reduce waste are designed to reduce their effects on the environment and the health of building occupants. Buildings account for 39% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Department of Energy. Insurers say that, as sustainable buildings become more common, green insurance will become more popular and some of its features might become a standard part of property policies.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.254-259
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• 2021

Background: Prophylactic antibiotics are commonly used in craniofacial surgeries. Despite the low risk of surgical site infection after nasal surgery, a lack of consensus regarding the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in the closed reduction of nasal bone fractures has led to inappropriate prescribing patterns. Through this study, we aimed to investigate the status of prophylactic antibiotic use in closed reductions of nasal bone fractures in Korea. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort of Korea from 2005 to 2015. We analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fractures. The sex, age, region of residence, comorbidities, and socioeconomic variables of the patients were collected from the database. Factors that affect the prescription of perioperative antibiotics were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 3,678 patients (mean±standard deviation of age, 28.7±14.9 years; 2,850 men [77.5%]; 828 women [22.5%]) were included in this study. The rate of antibiotic prescription during the perioperative period was 51.4%. Approximately 68.8% of prescriptions were written for patients who had received general anesthesia. The odds of perioperative prophylactic antibiotic use were significantly higher in patients who received general anesthesia than who received local anesthesia (odds ratio, 1.59). No difference was found in terms of patient age and physician specialty. Second-generation cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic (45.3%), followed by third- and first-generation cephalosporins (20.3% and 18.8%, respectively). In contrast, lincomycin derivatives and aminoglycosides were not prescribed. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there was a wide variety of perioperative antibiotic prescription patterns used in nasal bone surgeries. Evidence-based guidance regarding the prescribing of antimicrobial agents for the closed reduction of nasal bone fractures should be considered in future research.