KMID : 0191120190340350229
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Journal of Korean Medical Science 2019 Volume.34 No. 35 p.229 ~ p.229
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Effect of Having a Usual Source of Care on Medical Expenses ? Using the Korea Health Panel Data
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Kim Doo-Ri
Kim Sol-Lip Park Hye-Kyeong Ha In-Hyuk Jun Sun-Young Ryu Won-Hyung Lee Sang-Il Sung Nak-Jin
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Abstract
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Background: There is a controversy about the effect of having a usual source of care on medical expenses. Although many studies have shown lower medical expenses in a group with a usual source of care, some have shown higher medical expenses in such a group. This study aimed to empirically demonstrate the effect of having a usual source of care on medical expenses.
Methods: The participants included those aged 20 years and older who responded to the questionnaire about ¡°having a usual source of care¡± from the Korean Health Panel Data of 2012, 2013, and 2016 (6,120; 6,593; and 7,598 respectively). Those who responded with ¡°I do not get sick easily¡± or ¡°I rarely visit medical institutions¡± as the reasons for not having a usual source of care were excluded. The panel regression with random effects model was performed to analyze the effect of having a usual source of care on medical expenses.
Results: The group having a usual source of care spent 20% less on inpatient expenses and 25% less on clinic expenses than the group without a usual source of care. Particularly, the group having a clinic-level usual source of care spent 12% less on total medical expenses, 9% less on outpatient expenses, 35% less on inpatient expenses, and 74% less on hospital expenses, but 29% more on clinic expenses than the group without a usual source of care.
Conclusion: This study confirmed that medical expenses decreased in the group with a usual source of care, especially a clinic-level usual source of care (USC), than in the group without a usual source of care. Encouraging people to have a clinic-level USC can control excessive medical expenses and induce desirable medical care utilization.
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KEYWORD
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Usual Source of Care, Korea Health Panel Data, Panel Analysis, Health Expenditure, Primary Health Care
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