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KMID : 1103720170770040205
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Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
2017 Volume.77 No. 4 p.205 ~ p.210
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Second Edition of Research on Relative Value Scales and Cost Reduction of Radiologic Tests
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Yang Dal-Mo
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Abstract
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From 2010 to 2015, the Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted the second edition of research on the relative value scale to correct the imbalance in the current relative value scale among medical departments by converting the current system, which yields calculations according to each of the 40 medical departments, to a new calculation system based on five procedures (surgery, treatment, function tests, laboratory examinations, and radiologic examinations). As a result of this research, a total of 850 billion won was reallocated to the procedures that have low cost recovery rates, such as surgery, treatment, and function tests, in order to correct the imbalance. This figure included a sum of 350 billion won from health insurance financial inputs and 500 billion won which consisted of 363.7 billion won earned through cost reduction of laboratory examinations and 136.3 billion won from radiologic examinations which have a relatively high cost recovery rate. For the growth of radiology, it is very important to obtain an appropriate relative value unit for radiologic tests. If the cost of radiologic tests were to be reduced simply because of their high cost recovery rate, there will be serious consequences to the future of radiology. Because the government takes only the cost recovery rate into account while establishing the cost policy, it should be seriously considered not to pursue quantitative growth by increasing the number of radiologic tests. Instead, we should mainly focus on qualitative issues such as reducing the number of double-checking redundant and unnecessary tests, and on creating a policy of differential cost by qualitative management of radiologic equipment.
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KEYWORD
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Relative Value Scales, Radiography
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