Impact of Selective Health Benefit on Medical Expenditure and Provider Behavior: Case of Gastric Cancer Surgery.
10.4332/KJHPA.2016.26.1.63
- Author:
Su Jin CHO
1
;
Jung Ae KO
;
Yeonmi CHOI
Author Information
1. Health Insurance Review and Assessment Institute, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Wonju, Korea. nereus00@hiramail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Selective health benefit;
Medical expenditure;
Provider behavior;
electrosurgery;
Stomach neoplasms
- MeSH:
Electrosurgery;
Health Expenditures*;
Humans;
Inpatients;
Insurance Benefits*;
Laparoscopy;
National Health Programs;
Stomach Neoplasms*;
Uncertainty
- From:Health Policy and Management
2016;26(1):63-70
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
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 Cultrasonic 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.
