• 보건행정학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

Background: Selective health benefit was introduced for decreasing economic burden of patients. Medical devices with economic uncertainty have been covered as selective health benefit by National Health Insurance since December 2013. We aimed to analyze impact of selective health benefit to medical expenditure and provider behavior focused on electrosurgery (ultrasonic shears, electrothermal bipolar vessel sealers) for gastric cancer patients covered since December 2014. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance claims data of 2,698 patients underwent gastric cancer surgery between August 2014 and March 2015. Medical cost and patient sharing per inpatient day were analyzed to verify that covering electrosurgery increased medical expenditure and changed provider behavior from open surgery to endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, we analyzed the claim rate of medical device or goods relating gastric endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. Results: Medical cost and patient sharing per inpatient day were increased after covering electosurgery as selective health benefit (39,724/1,421 won). However, there were no medical expenditure increases after adjusting claim of electosurgery and patient sharing was decreased 1,057 won especially. The coverage of selective health benefit did not increase the claim rate of medical device or goods related endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, either. Conclusion: Covering electosurgery decreased patient economic burden and did not change of provider behavior. Expanding selective health benefit is needed to decrease economic burden of severe patients. Further study should evaluate the long term effect with accumulated data.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.527-540
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• 2011

Some patients tend to visit tertiary hospitals instead of non-tertiary hospitals for minor illnesses, which is a chronic problem within the Korean health care delivery system. In order to reduce the number of patients with minor severity diseases unnecessarily utilizing the tertiary medical services in Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare raised the outpatient co-insurance rate for the tertiary hospitals in July, 2009. Another increase in the prescription drug co-insurance rate by the general and tertiary hospitals is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2011. An increase in copayments may discourage the utilization rate of medical services among the underprivileged or patients who require complicated procedures. This study aims to analyze the diabetic patients' utilization rates of tertiary hospitals according to the Comorbidity score. Diabetic patients' data was gathered from the Health Insurance Claims Records in the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service between 2007-2009. Comorbidity scores are measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Elixhauser Index. Chi-square and logistic regressions were performed to compare the utilization rates of both insulin-dependents (n=94,026) and non-insulin-dependents (n=1,424,736) in tertiary hospitals. The higher Comorbidity outcomes in the insulin-dependent diabetic patients who didn't visit tertiary hospitals compared to those who did, was expected. However, after adjusting the gender, age, location, first visits and complications, the groups that scored >=1 on the comorbidity scale utilized the tertiary hospitals more than the O score group. Non-insulin-diabetic patients with higher Comorbidity scores visited tertiary hospitals more than patients who received lower grades. This study found that patients suffering from severe diabetes tend to frequently visit the tertiary hospitals in Korea. This result implied that it is important for Korea to improve the quality of its primary health care as well as to consider a co-insurance rate increase.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.192-198
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• 2020

Background: Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) is operated as a social insurance system in which people pay a portion of their monthly income as insurance premiums and receive benefits when they experience illness or injury. Since 2005, the national health insurance remained surplus accumulating cumulative reserves each year. However, as of 2018, NHIS revenue recorded 62.11 trillion won and spending of 62.29 trillion won. The deterioration of NHIS finances is expected to accelerate with the aging population, income growth, new medical technology development, and enhanced security policies. Methods: To examine the financial health and sustainability of NHIS, we estimated the future revenue and spending until 2030 using the data from Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service statistical yearbook. 2004-2018 average percentage change in NHIS revenue and spending was calculated. We estimated the future NHIS financial status using two methods. In the first method, we calculated the revenue and spending of the future NHIS by applying the 2004-2018 average percentage change to the subsequent years consecutively. In the second method, we estimated the future NHIS financial status after adjusting for the predicted demographic changes such as the aging population and declining birth rate in South Korea. Results: The estimates from this study suggest that the NHIS's cumulative reserves will run out by 2024. Conclusion: In terms of spending on current health insurance, there should be a search for ways of more efficient spending and funding options.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2023

Background: Despite the various activities of the regional public hospitals, discussions are being made as to whether or not to continue due to the issue of financial deficit. Therefore, the main factors affecting the fiscal deficit were analyzed with 10-year data. Methods: This study is a panel analysis that analyzed the characteristics of 34 regional public hospitals and influencing factors on medical benefits for 10 years from 2010 to 2019. First, we analyze the determinants of medically vulnerable areas set by the government, analyze the trend of medical profit per 100 beds and medical profit rate from 2010 to 2019, and identify the factors that affect them. Results: Differences in medical profit per 100 beds and medical profit-to-medical profit rate were caused by market share representing regional characteristics, and both indicators improved as the number of outpatients increased. The important influencing variables are the number of doctors and nurses, and both indicators improve when there are specialists, but medical benefits decrease as the number of doctors increases when judged by the number of people per 100 beds. In addition, the number of nurses per 100 beds does not contribute to medical profit and has a negative effect on the medical profit ratio. Conclusion: As only regional characteristics were taken into account for medically vulnerable areas, operational characteristics need to be considered. The greatest impact on the finances of local medical centers is the proper staffing of doctors and nurses, and their efficient arrangement is the most important factor in financial stability.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.166-172
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• 2023

Background: To improve the support low-income individuals' medical expenses, it is necessary to think about ways to enhance the Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program. This study proposes expanding support criteria and changing the income standard. Methods: This study conducted simulations using national data from the National Health Insurance Service. Simulations performed for people who have used health services (n=172,764) in 2022 to confirm the Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program's size based on changes to the subject selection criteria. Results: As a result of the simulation with expanded criteria, the expected budget was estimated to increase between Korean won (KRW) 13.2 (11.5%) and 138.6 billion (37.4%), and the number of recipients increased between 41,979 (48.9%) and 150,317 (76.1%). The results of the simulation for the change in income criteria (applied to health insurance levels below the 50th percentile) estimated the expected budget to increase between KRW -8.9 (-7.8%) and 55.6 billion (15.0%) and the number of recipients to increase between -8,704 (-10.1%) and 41,693 (21.1%) compared to the current standard. Conclusion: The 2023 Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program's criteria were expanded as per the 20th Presidential Office's national agenda to alleviate the burden of medical expenses on the low-income class. In addition, The Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program needs to be integrated with other medical expense support policies in the mid- to long-term, and a foundation must be prepared to ensure the consistency of each system.

• 환경정책연구
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.151-173
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• 2011

기상재해는 해가 갈수록 증가하고, 엄청난 재산 및 인명 피해를 발생시키고 있으며 반복적으로 매년 정부는 엄청난 액수를 들여 재난 피해를 복구하고 있다. 이제는 기후변화로 인한 기상재난에 대해서 정부가 모든 것을 다 부담할 수 없음으로 인해 민간 또한 재난을 준비하는 장기적이고 예방적인 자연재해보험정책을 논의할 때이다. 무엇보다도 중요한 것은 단순한 재해보험도입이 아니라 재해 발생 시 가장 큰 피해를 입는 저소득층의 미래에 대한 불안 감소와 빠른 복구를 가능케 하는 사회보장적 성격을 지닌 재해보험을 도입한다는 것이고, 현실적으로 실행 가능한 방안으로 현재 시행중인 microinsurance(소액서민보험) 방식과 index insurance(지수보험) 방식을 혼용하여 도입하는 것이 바람직할 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.318-328
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• 2018

Objectives: People are living longer, but often with diseases or chronic conditions. As a consequence, interest in resolving insurance blind spots is growing. This study provides substandard risk-relevant statistics to help substandard risks who are likely to fall in insurance blind spots obtain insurance coverage, such as the reimbursement of medical costs, as well as to stimulate insurance product development. Methods: This study uses National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cohort data to determine the relevant statistics. The incidence rates of severe diseases are derived and compared against standard risks to establish a set of relative risk factors. These incidence rates of standard and substandard risks are then compared. Results: Currently, an individual's cancer history is used in the underwriting process for simplified issue insurance. However, underwriting focusing on hospitalization and procedures related to serious illnesses could lower premiums for substandard risks. Moreover, the statistical results could be used to expand the coverage of health insurance products. Conclusions: This study's relative risk factors can be used to derive simplified issue premium rates for substandard risks. They can also be used to implement discount and loading schemes for medical reimbursement insurance and help insurance companies implement proactive risk management.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.336-346
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• 2017

Background: Due to the asymmetry of information and knowledge and the power of bureaucrats and medical professionals, it is not easy for citizens to participate in health care policy making. This study analyzes the case of the insured organization participating in the Health Insurance Policy Committee (HIPC) and provides a basis for discussing methods and conditions for better public participation. Methods: Qualitative analysis was conducted using the in-depth interviews with the participants and document data such as materials for HIPC meetings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively sampled six participants from organizations representing the insured in HIPC. The meanings related to the factors affecting participation were found and categorized into major categories. Results: The main factors affecting participating in the decision making process were trust and cooperation among the participants, structure and procedure of governance, representation and expertise of participants, and contents of issues. Due to limited cooperation, participants lacked influence in important decisions. There was an imbalance in power due to unreasonable procedures and criteria for governance. As the materials for meetings were provided inappropriate manner, it was difficult for participants to understand the contents and comments on the meeting. Due to weak accountability structure, opinions from external stakeholders have not been well received. The participation was made depending on the expertise of individual members. The degree of influence was different depending on the contents of the issues. Conclusion: In order to meet the values of democracy and realize the participation that the insured can demonstrate influence, it is necessary to have a fair and reasonable procedure and a sufficient learning environment. More deliberative structure which reflects citizen's public perspective is required, rather than current negotiating structure of HIPC.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.82-88
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• 2020

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify individual and institutional factors associated with the prescription of systemic steroids in patients with acute respiratory infections and to investigate the role of a policy measure aimed to reduce inappropriate prescriptions. Methods: We used data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort from 2006 to 2015 and focused on episodes of acute respiratory infection. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify individual-level and institution-level factors associated with the prescription of systemic steroids. In addition, steroid prescription rates were compared with antibiotic prescription rates to assess their serial trends in relation to Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Prescription Appropriateness Evaluation policy. Results: Among a total of 9 460 552 episodes of respiratory infection, the steroid prescription rate was 6.8%. Defined daily doses/1000 persons/d of steroid increased gradually until 2009, but rose sharply since 2010. The steroid prescription rate was higher among ear, nose and throat specialties (13.0%) than other specialties, and in hospitals (8.0%) than in tertiary hospitals (3.0%) and other types of institutions. Following a prolonged reduction in the steroid prescription rate, this rate increased since the HIRA Prescription Appropriateness Evaluation dropped steroids from its list of evaluation items in 2009. Such a trend reversal was not observed for the prescription rate of antibiotics, which continue to be on the HIRA Prescription Appropriateness Evaluation list. Conclusions: Specialty and type of institution are important correlates of steroid prescriptions in cases of acute respiratory infection. Steroid prescriptions can also be influenced by policy measures, such as the HIRA Prescription Appropriateness Evaluation policy.

• 한국노년학
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.467-485
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• 2012

노인장기요양보험 재가서비스의 질 향상을 목적으로 2010년도에 처음 도입된 재가장기요양기관평가제도는 재가서비스 질의 수준을 한 단계 끌어올렸다는 평가를 받고 있지만, 한편으로는 지속적인 제도개선의 필요성이 제기되었다. 재가장기요양기관평가제도의 발전을 위해서는 평가대상자인 재가장기요양기관들의 의견을 수렴하여 제도 개선에 반영함으로써 평가에 대한 피평가기관의 수용성을 높이는 것이 중요하다. 이에 본 연구는 '2010년 재가장기요양기관 평가'에 참여한 피평가기관 중 재가서비스 이용자의 86.7%를 차지하고 있는 방문요양기관의 평가책임자들을 대상으로 평가단계와 평가체계 전반에 대한 인식과 태도를 조사하였다. 조사는 국민건강보험공단 대용량 웹팩스 서버와 전자메일을 이용하여 진행되었으며, 3,487개 방문요양기관 중 473개소가 최종 설문을 완료하였다. 연구결과에 의하면, 평가등급에 따라 장기요양기관평가에 대한 인식과 태도에 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 즉, 평가등급이 높은 기관일수록 평가준비기간이 길었고, 평가에 대한 이해도가 높았으며, 평가항목들이 장기요양서비스의 질을 적절히 평가한다고 생각하고 있었고, 평가결과 통보서의 내용이 기관의 질 개선 활동에 유용하다고 생각하고 있었다. 이러한 연구결과는 피평가기관의 재가장기요양기관평가 제도에 대한 인식과 의견을 제시함으로써 향후 재가장기요양기관평가제도에 대한 개선안을 마련하는데 유용하게 활용될 것으로 기대한다.