• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to investigate factors affecting perceived financial burden of medical expenditures. Method: The participants were 2,024 inpatients who were enrolled in a survey on the benefit coverage rate of the National Health Insurance in 2006. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA-test, Mann-Whitney-test, Kruskal-Wallis-test, Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: The crucial factors for perceived financial burden were age, job, equivalence scale, ratio of annual family income vs medical expenditure, and private health insurance. Perceived financial burden was higher for people who were older, who were unemployed, whose medical expenditures were high compared to annual family income, whose index of family equalization was low and for those who had no private health insurance. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate a demand for system reform that will enable management of no-pay hospital bills in the National Health Insurance to decrease the medical expense of people in the low-income bracket.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2009

This study grasped recognition on a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly targeting dental professionals who are working at dental hospitals and clinics where are located in Daejeon Metropolitan City. It developed and utilized materials available for educating the care staff in a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly and the dental professionals who participate in the oral hygiene service. It carried out the effective duty performance for the elderly in a situation of long-term care protection. Thus, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the early settlement in a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly. The following conclusions were obtained as a result of having carried out self-administered questionnaire research targeting 238 people from August 1 to August 30 in 2008. 1. In the general characteristics of the research subject, the present working place was indicated to be 22.7% for dental hospital, 71.8% for dental clinic, and 5.5% for others. As for the main duty field, the medical treatment & cooperative duty was indicated to be the highest with 61.8%, and was statistically significant(p=0.000). 2. The necessity for a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly was indicated to be 77.7% for 'necessary' and 1.7% for 'unnecessary,' and was statistically significant(p=0.016). 3. In the item of dividing the service of long-term care insurance for the elderly, the dental hygienists showed higher recognition than non-dental hygienists, and indicated significant difference(p=0.010). 4. As for recognition on a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly in dental professionals who responded as saying of 'knowing name and contents' about a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly, the recognition level was high in recognition of subjects' age(p=0.000), division in services(p=0.012), contents in at-home care service(p=0.000), execution in oral-hygiene service(p=0.004), procedure of using the long-term care insurance for the elderly(p=0.016), item of judging grade of long-term care insurance for the elderly(p=0.013), medical charge by service according to judging grade of long-term care insurance for the elderly(p=0.015), burden of cost for a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly(p=0.011), qualification of care staff(p=0.002), and contents of oral-hygiene service(p=0.027), and showed significant difference. 5. The service of long-term care insurance for the elderly and the oral-hygiene service indicated the statistically significant correlation. Accordingly, all of dental professionals need to make a desperate effort to improve dental professionals' knowledge on a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly enough to be required a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly. The more systematic and standardized professional education and materials are thought to be needed to be developed aiming at the success in oral-hygiene service within a system of long-term care insurance for the elderly, by strengthening professionalism in dentists and dental hygienists.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.47-76
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• 1989

The objectives of this study was to analyze the major causes of decreasing utilization rate of health care institutios in pilot-project area of regional medical insurance, Kwang-hwa and Kun-wi country. After the implementation of medical insurance, utilization rate of health institutions turned out' to be lower than it was estimated, when the pilot-project of regional medical insurance was planned. It might be due to changes in inhabitant's behavioral attitude toward medical insurance. So this study was made to find measures for financial stability by increasing utilization rate of health care institutions and to be available for basic demand-supply program of medical care. The hypothesis of this study was as follows; First. there is difference in understanding health care institutions between Kun-wi and Kwang-hwa. Second. respondesnts of inquiry survey have exact knowledge of their past experience of treatment taken prior to enforcement of medical insurance, Questionaire survey was made as to each 700 household among total 11, 884 households in Kun-wi and 20,919 households in Kwang-hwa. In case of Kun-wi, 70% of inquired households (491) gave their answers. In Kwang-hwa, the number was 560 households (80% of inquireds). Dollected data was processed and analyzed by way of using SPSS batch system. To evaluate facto rs distribution aspects of data and to make comparison between two area, percentage and $X^2$ distribution were applied. The results were as follows; L The utilization rate of health care institutions in Kun-wi and Kwang-hwa was lower than it was estimated. when pilot-project of medical insurance was planned. 2. Prior to the implementation of medical insurance. inhabitants in two area chose the medical institutions considering such factors. First was medical care fee cheap. second in habitant's residence, Third was the institutions conveniently easy of access. 3. After the implementation of medical insurance. 26.1% of inqurieds in Kun-wi and 41.6% in Kwang-hwa, changed medical institutions. In case of Kwn-wi, from health care institution (p 0.05), and in case of Kwang-hwa, vice versa, from general medical institutions to health care institutions. 4. Evaluation by factors were made such as follows. Inquired gave high marks to following facts: In case of Kun-wi, general medical institutions were difficult of access and relation between patients: was not friendly, but burden of medical expenditure was light. Effects of treatment and facilities was good. In case of Kwang-hwa, inquired gave high evaluation marks to the follow ing facts; facilities of medical institutions was not good, but the burden of medical expenditure was light. 5. After the implementation of medical insurance, the services was evaluated as good, but inquired hopec for lessening the burden of medical expenditure. 6. In case of exact understanding of cost-sharing, the evaluation rate in Kwang-hwa was higher than that of Kun-wi (p < 0.005). And positive attitude toward necessity of medical insurance was also good in Kwang-hwa (p < 0.05). 7. In case of inquired's attitude toward medical institutions, Kwang-hwa showed positive response (p < 0.05) 8. In the case of comparison between general medical institution and health care institution, two area showed similar positive response; medical manpower, facilities of medical institutions and effest: of treatement was good. 9. In comprehensive evaluation of benefit-service; the general medical institution's positiveness was higher than that of health care institutions in Kun-wi. But in Kwang-hwa vice-versa. 10. If the medical expenditure of general medical institution and health care institutions was equal 77% of inquireds in Kun-wi and 59.1% in Kwang-hwa answered that they chose general medical insurance. Considering results above mentioned, the conclusion of this study was made as follows. 1. In Kwang-hwa county, where the understanding of health care institutions's was good, the utilization's of health care institutions was shown high. Therefore, in case of Kwang-hwa, betterment: should be made to induce increasing utilization rate for negative factors of health care institutions. 2. In case of Kun-wi, where the understanding of health care institutions was on the decrease, measures for changing such negative factors should be taken by way of strengthening public relations. And cases of Kwang-hwa should also be studied. 3. On the side of financial stabilization and establishing health care delivery system, primary health care should be available. Therefore, the major cause of inhabitant's avoiding health care institutions should be known. And measures for activating that institutions have to be taken. So, the facilities of health care institution have to be improved up to the level of clinic. And supportive measures for securing equipment and improving health care services should also be taken. It is necessary that strategy for public relations should be employed with policy considerations and supports.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2000

Objectives : We attempted to assess He accuracy of ICD codes for cerebrovascular diseases in medical insurance claims (ICMIC) and to investigate the reasons for error. This study was designed as a preliminary study to establish a nationwide surveillance system. Methods : A total of 626 patients with medical insurance claims who indicated a diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases during the period from 1993 to 1997 was selected from the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation cohort (KMIC cohort: 115,600 persons). The KMIC cohort was 10% of those insured who had taken health examinations in 1990 and 1992 consecutively. The registered medical record administrators were trained in the survey technique and gathered data from March to May 1999. The definition of cerebrovascular diseases in this study included cases which met ore of two criteria (Minnesota, WHO) or 'definite stroke' in CT/MRI finding. We questioned the medical record administrators to explain the error if the final diagnoses were not coded as stroke. Results : The accuracy rate of the ICMIC was 83.0% (425 cases) Medical records were not available for 8.2% (51 cases) due to the closing of hospitals, the absence of a computer system or omission of medical record, etc. Sixty-three cases (10.0%) were classified as impossible to interpret due to insufficient records in 'major clinical symptoms' or 'neurological deficits'. The most common reason was 'to meet review criteria of medical insurance benefits (52.9%)'. The department where errors in the ICMIC occurred most frequently was the department for medical insurance claims in the hospital. Conclusion : The accuracy rate of the ICMIC was 83.0%.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2018

Background: Diagnostic imaging fee had been reduced in May 2011, but it was recovered after 6 months because of strong opposition of medical providers. This study aimed to analyze the behavior of medical providers according to fee changes. Methods: The National Health Insurance claims data between November 2010 and December 2012 were used. The number of exams per computed tomography was analyzed to verify that the fee changes increased or decreased the number of exams. Multivariate regression model were applied. Results: The monthly number of exams increased by 92.5% after fee reduction, so the diagnostic imaging spending were remained before it. But medical provider decreased the number of exams after fee return. After adjusting characteristic of hospitals, fee reduction increased the monthly number of exams by 48.0% in a regression model. Regardless type of hospitals and severity of disease, the monthly number of exams increased during period of fee reduction. The number of exams in large-scaled hospitals (tertiary and general hospital) were increased more than those of small-scaled hospitals. Conclusion: Fee-reduction increased unnecessary diagnostic exams under the fee-for-service system. It is needed to define appropriate exam and change reimbursement system on the basis of guideline.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.115-126
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• 2015

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the characteristics and determination factors of health care policy satisfaction and welfare recognition for health insurance & health care financing. Methods : The utilized data were 4,174 cases who responded to a welfare recognition survey in the 8th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2013). The statistical methodology used in this study is the multiple regression model. Results : The significant affecting factors of health care policy satisfaction were age, education, household income, welfare attitudes, and health status. Medical utilization & private medical insurance were not related to health care policy satisfaction. The affecting factors of health insurance reinforcement were age, health status, welfare attitudes. The affecting factors of health care financing expansion were age, economic activity type, medical utilization, welfare attitudes. The affecting factors of welfare attitudes were age, economic activity type, household income, health insurance, and health status. Conclusions : Health care policy satisfaction, health insurance reinforcement, and health care financing expansion were all affected by age and welfare attitude; but this was not the case for private health insurance. This study recommended that the Korean government provide active planning for reinforcement of health insurance and publicity of the health care system in order to accord with the prospects of people.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.57-94
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• 2000

Korea's social health insurance system was introduced in 1977, which has made a universal coverage possibly by July 1989. Korean government had pursued a single objective for the last decade to put the whole population under the coverage of medical security, and the objective was achieved within 12 years. The rapid accomplishment is primarily due to such factors as limited benefits, high copayment rate, low contributions as well as rapid economic growth. There are several sources of pressure for the implementation of social health insurance such as health professional group, labor unions, politicians, international organizations etc.. However it is important to look at the feasibility of social health insurance. Among other things, it is necessary to identify the administrative infrastructure of insurance system and to assess income for source of fund. As many developed countries, Korea began to apply health insurance to the employees of the large firms, and the expansion based on employment status. Thus the several funds system was inevitable according to the gradual expansion strategy. However many persons had criticized several funds system in respect with equity and efficiency aspects. In the short history of the Korean health insurance, whether one fund or sever or funds had been the most controversial issue. In Febrary 1999, the National Assembly passed the act of one fund system. From July 2000 separate funds will be unifed under new health insurance scheme. In this study we will analyze the policy making process on implementation, expansion and integration of health insurance system of Korea. And also analyse problems related to policy making.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influencing factors of the patient leaning phenomenon in tertiary hospitals. Based on the results of this study, we intended to find implications for improving the problems of the delivery system imbalance in tertiary hospitals caused by patient leaning phenomenon. Methodology/Approach: Qualitative studies were conducted, using focus group interviews and in-depth interviews. The focus group interviews were conducted for 12 users of tertiary hospitals by 2 groups. And in-depth interviews were conducted for 6 tertiary hospital managers. This was considered to be the most effective approach to gather diverse and in-depth information about the influencing factor of patient leaning phenomenon in tertiary hospitals. Findings: In focus group interviews, the reason for choosing tertiary hospitals was the reliability of the hospital(physician, reputation, etc.). And the effect of the policy to strengthen coverage of National Health Insurance and private medical insurance was relatively small. In other words, we found that the individual's desire to receive medical services suitable for one's health status and disease condition was the biggest factor, rather than the cost and policy factors. Practical Implications: We suggested that the appropriate medical care provision should be strengthened according to the role and function of medical institutions. In addition, the education system needs to be reorganized to activate the referral program, expand community medical capabilities, and foster quality primary medical care.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.219-268
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• 2006

In July 1989, Korea had achieved the national medical insurance system comprehensively covering the whole population since its inception of 12 years before, and subsequently the plural medical insurers had integrated to the unique health insurer system in July 2000. But there yet remain some problems to be improved under low contributions rates and poor benefit packages, especially the shortage of assuring beneficiaries' rights. The Health Insurance Appeal System is composed of a two-tiered system of committee. The Formal Objection Committees built in the National Health Insurance Corporation and in the Health Insurance Review Agency respectively examine the formal objections to the decisions of the Corporation, or the Review Agency. And the Dispute Mediation Committee built under the command of the Minister of Health and Welfare reviews the protests against the decisions on the formal objections by each Formal Objection Committee. To cope with the appellant in relation to the administration on the qualification of the insureds, contributions, and insurance benefits etc, is found to be unsatisfactory. There's the reason of poor function on right-relief caused by the loose composition of the Appeal Committee, the deficit of people's recognition and P.R., the lack of professional manpower and the Committee's independency, and time lag in making decisions and so on. Consequently the Appeal System should be improved to secure the rights-relief function, to empower the professionalism of the Appeal Committee, to strengthen P.R. for the beneficiaries, to build up the staff's proficiency through training, and to develop the quality of administrative services.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.67-79
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• 2007

Objectives : The Purposes of this study were to investigate payment system for oriental medical treatment as supplier of medical services, and to estimate reasonable levels of medical fee. Methods : This study made these following results by reviewing the answers which were given by 172 Korea traditional doctors from March 1 to April 15, 2006. Results : General satisfaction of payment system for oriental health insurance was $2.17{\pm}1.01$ $(mean{\pm}SD)$ on a 1-7 scale (median 4) as very low level. Reasonable medical fees which were answered by 172 Korea traditional doctor are higher than present fees, thus Korea traditional doctors think that present fees should be increased. And according to the survey, current insurance fees have a problem of disparity between each treatment fee. Conclusions : According to results of this study, current fees of oriental medical treatment are not rational. And this problem leads to distortion of medical treatment. Additional studies in thls field are needed.