|
KMID : 0613620150350020405
|
|
Health Social Welfare Review
2015 Volume.35 No. 2 p.405 ~ p.428
|
|
|
Preventable Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits:Focus on Medical Aid Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions
|
|
Kim Soo-Jung
Kim Bo-Rin
Park So-Jung
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This study aims to investigate the differences in access to health care between National Health Insurance and Medical Aid Program beneficiaries with chronic conditions in South Korea by focusing on preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Data came from 2nd - 4th wave (2009-2011) of the Korea Health Panel (KHP). The analytic sample included only respondents aged 20 years and older with chronic disease (N=8,870). Logistic Regression Analysis was conducted using Random Intercept Model to examine the associations between health insurance types and Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) - related hospitalization/ Emergency Room (ER) visit. The key independent variables were two types of health coverage schemes: National Health Insurance and Medical Aid. Compared to National Health Insurance beneficiaries, Medical Aid recipients were more likely to be hospitalized due to ACSCs and to use ER services, even after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, health conditions, socio-economic status, and number of outpatient visits. Our findings suggest that current Medical Aid policy needs to be improved to enhance access to appropriate and timely medical service among its beneficiaries. Policy discussion about Medical Aid should be focused on its gaps and limitations and on ways to address them.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Medical Aid, Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, Preventable Hospitalizations, Emergency Room Visit
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|