BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the resource utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in China. This study aimed to examine the length of stay (LOS) and inpatient charges of TKA in China, and to investigate their determinants. METHODS: We included patients undergoing primary TKA in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System in China between 2013 and 2019. LOS and inpatient charges were obtained, and their associated factors were further assessed using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 184,363 TKAs were included. The LOS decreased from 10.8 days in 2013 to 9.3 days in 2019. The admission-to-surgery interval decreased from 4.6 to 4.2 days. The mean inpatient charges were 61,208.3 Chinese Yuan. Inpatient charges reached a peak in 2016, after which a gradual decrease was observed. Implant and material charges accounted for a dominating percentage, but they exhibited a downward trend, whereas labor-related charges gradually increased. Single marital status, non-osteoarthritis indication, and comorbidity were associated with longer LOS and higher inpatient charges. Female sex and younger age were associated with higher inpatient charges. There were apparent varieties of LOS and inpatient charges among provincial or non-provincial hospitals, hospitals with various TKA volume, or in different geographic regions. CONCLUSIONS The LOS following TKA in China appeared to be long, but it was shortened during the time period of 2013 to 2019. The inpatient charges dominated by implant and material charges exhibited a downward trend. However, there were apparent sociodemographic and hospital-related discrepancies of resource utilization. The observed statistics can lead to more efficient resource utilization of TKA in China.
Length of Stay ; Fees and Charges ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/economics* ; China ; Humans ; Databases, Factual ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Inpatients

medical expenses of firefighters, which represents a concrete scale of disease. Our purpose in this study was to determine the medical expenditures of firefighters to assess the overall scale of disease in Korea. We focused on cancer, mental disorders, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disease, the prevalence of which was expected to be high in firefighters.METHODS: This study utilized National Health Insurance Service data. We targeted firefighters, police officers, and government officials. We classified disease based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. We compared prevalence by the age-standardized prevalence rate, considering standard distribution of the population. Medical expenditure of disease was defined as outpatient fees, hospitalization fees, and drug costs. Total medical expenditures were calculated by the sum of those 3 categories.RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of cancer, mental disorders, and cardiovascular disease in firefighters was slightly higher than or similar to that of government officials and police officers (no significant difference). However, medical expenditures for stomach cancer, mental disorders, and most cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were higher in firefighters than in others. In particular, firefighters spent 12 times more money for ischemic heart disease than did government officials. Of musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar disc disorder had the highest expenditures among firefighters.CONCLUSIONS: The age-standardized prevalence of most of diseases of firefighters was not as high as in the other groups, but the medical expenses of firefighters were much higher than those of government officials and police officers.]]>
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drug Costs ; Fees and Charges ; Firefighters ; Health Expenditures ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Mental Disorders ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Myocardial Ischemia ; National Health Programs ; Occupational Groups ; Outpatients ; Police ; Prevalence ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To examine correlations among rating scales and findings suggestive of tracheal aspiration and pharyngeal residue between fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in dysphagia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied patients referred to our hospital for dysphagia assessment. Three raters judged the residue severity and laryngeal penetration or tracheal aspiration of FEES and VFSS. The raters applied the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) for tracheal aspiration and pixel-based circumscribed area ratio and Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity for post-swallow residue in VFSS and FEES, respectively. Anatomy-physiologic findings during FEES associated with tracheal aspiration were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 178 participants were enrolled in our study. In correlation analysis, PAS (r=0.74), vallecula retention (r=0.76), and pyriform sinus retention (r=0.78) showed strong positive correlations between FEES and VFSS. Intra-rater agreement between VFSS and FEES was good for PAS (κ=0.65) and vallecula (κ=0.65) and pyriform sinus retention (κ=0.69). Among 72 patients who showed subglottic shelf residue, a suspected finding of aspiration, in FEES, 68 had concomitant tracheal aspiration during VFSS. Both vocal fold hypomobility and glottic gap during phonation were significantly associated with findings suggestive of tracheal aspiration during FEES (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Quantitative and reliable aspiration and post swallow residue rating scales showed strong positive correlations and good agreement between VFSS and FEES.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopes ; Fees and Charges ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Phonation ; Pyriform Sinus ; Vocal Cord Dysfunction ; Vocal Cords ; Weights and Measures

Patient education is important for successful management of atopic dermatitis; however, due to limited time and resources, patient education remains insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the current state of education provided by Korean dermatologists, pediatric allergists, and allergists to patients with atopic dermatitis. A questionnaire survey consisting of items regarding educational programs for patients with atopic dermatitis was conducted via e-mail. In total, 153 participants responded to the questionnaires, and 26.8% indicated that they have had separate educational programs. The workforce involved in the educational program included nurses, residents or fellows, dieticians, pharmacists, and clinical psychologists. Most education protocols addressed the characteristics and natural course of atopic dermatitis and environmental management. Overall, 96.7% of the participants replied that an additional charge is needed for education; moreover, additional assistance from an academic society or association, in the form of medical staff, organized data, and advertisement, is required to develop and provide a well-structured educational program. A standardized education protocol will effectively provide appropriate education for patients with atopic dermatitis. Arrangement of education fees, covered by the National Health Insurance Service, will lead to the establishment of a structured educational program and participation of an additional medical workforce.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Staff ; National Health Programs ; Nutritionists ; Patient Education as Topic ; Pharmacists ; Psychology

This study identified the explanatory power of the Korean rehabilitation patient group (KRPG) v1.1 for acquired brain injury (ABI) on medical expenses in the rehabilitation hospitals and the correlation of functional outcomes with the expenses. Here, the design is a retrospective analysis from the claim data of the designated rehabilitation hospitals. Data including KRPG information with functional status and medical expenses were collected from 1 January and 31 August 2018. Reduction of variance (R2) was statistically analyzed for the explanation power of the KRPG. Association between functional status and the medical expenses was carried out using the Spearman's rank order correlation (rho). From the claim data of 365 patients with ABI, the KRPG v1.1 explained 8.6% of variance for the total medical expenses and also explained 9.8% of variance for the rehabilitation therapy costs. Cognitive function and spasticity showed very weak correlation with the total medical expenses (rho = −0.17 and −0.14, respectively). Motor power and performance of activities of daily living were associated weakly (rho = −0.27 and −0.30, respectively). The KRPG and related functional status in ABI reflects the total medical expenses and rehabilitation therapy costs insufficiently in the designated rehabilitation hospitals. Thus, the current KRPG algorithm and variables for ABI may need to be ameliorated in the future.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain Diseases ; Brain Injuries ; Brain ; Cognition ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Neurological Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To analyze the incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sepsis in the early (July to September) and later (October to June) academic months to assess the “July effect”. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (2010–2014) was used to identify ERCP-related adult hospitalizations at urban teaching hospitals by applying relevant procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. Post-ERCP outcomes were compared between the early and later academic months. A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the odds of post-ERCP sepsis and its predictors. RESULTS: Of 481,193 ERCP procedures carried out at urban teaching hospitals, 124,934 were performed during the early academic months. The demographics were comparable for ERCP procedures performed during the early and later academic months. A higher incidence (9.4% vs. 8.8%, p<0.001) and odds (odds ratio [OR], 1.07) of post-ERCP sepsis were observed in ERCP performed during the early academic months. The in-hospital mortality rate (7% vs. 7.5%, p=0.072), length of stay, and total hospital charges in patients with post-ERCP sepsis were also equivalent between the 2 time points. Pre-ERCP cholangitis (OR, 3.20) and post-ERCP complications such as cholangitis (OR, 6.27), perforation (OR, 3.93), and hemorrhage (OR, 1.42) were significant predictors of higher post-ERCP sepsis in procedures performed during the early academic months. CONCLUSIONS: The July effect was present in the incidence of post-ERCP sepsis, and academic programs should take into consideration the predictors of post-ERCP sepsis to lower health-care burden.
Adult ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Demography ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Charges ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; International Classification of Diseases ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatitis ; Sepsis ; United States

BACKGROUND: As of July 2015, per diem payment was changed from fee for service Therefore, this study aims to analyse changes in medical charges and medical services before and after enforcement of the palliative care, targeting palliative care wards in a general hospital, and provide basic data needed for development of per diem payment. METHODS: The subjects of the study were a total of 610 cases consisting of 351 patients of service fee who left hospital (died) from July 2014 to June 2016 and 259 ones of per diem payment at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan City. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. First, after the palliative care system was applied, benefit medical service charges and insurance increased significantly (p<0.001). As benefit medical service charges increased, benefit private insurance payment increased significantly (p<0.001). Second, after the per diem payment was applied, total private insurance payment to medical institutes decreased significantly (p=0.050) and non-benefit also decreased significantly (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that additional rewards in the obligatory palliative care items should be continuously remedied and monitored to provide good quality hospice palliative care.
Academies and Institutes ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Fees and Charges ; Gwangju ; Hospices ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance ; Palliative Care ; Reward

The fee-for-service system is used as the main payment system for health care providers in Korea. It has been argued that it can't reflect differences in the medical practice costs across regions because the fee schedule is calculated based on the average cost. So, some researchers and providers have disputed that there is need for adopting geographic practice cost index (GPCI) used in the United States for the Medicare program for the elderly to the fee-for-service payment system. This study performed to identify whether the difference in the practice costs among regions exists or not and to examine the feasibility of applying GPCI to Korea payment system. For this purpose, we calculated modified-GPCI and examined considerations to introduce GPCI in Korea. First we identified available data to calculate GPCI. Second, we made applicable GPCI equations to Korea payment system and computed it based on four types of regions (metropolitan, urban, suburban, and rural). We also categorize the regions based on the availability of the medical resources and the capability of utilizing them. As a result, we found that there wasn't any significant difference in the GPCI by regional types in general, but the indices of rural areas (0.91–0.98) was relatively low compared to the indices of other regions (0.96–1.07). Considering the need to use GPCI floor, the pros and cons of using GPCI, and the concern of the regional imbalance of resources, the introduction of GPCI needs to be carefully considered.
Aged ; Fee Schedules ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Medicare ; Relative Value Scales ; United States

Several studies have reported adequate patient transfer to higher level hospitals according to the risk for improving perinatal outcomes. According to these reports, countries across the world divide the levels of maternal care on the basis of the assessment of hospital facilities and medical services as well as the assessment of high-risk pregnancies while evaluating the cases of and risks associated with maternal care that can be addressed by these hospitals at each level. Because the level of and policies on maternal care vary across countries, we aimed to evaluate risk assessments and introduction of treatment facility classifications in different countries. In Korea, birth rate is declining and the number of elderly pregnant women is increasing, whereas the number of hospitals that can deliver a baby and care for mothers at high risk is decreasing. We, therefore, need to establish an infrastructure for medically vulnerable areas, a localization center, and a medical personnel supplement. Moreover, establishing detailed guidelines and criteria for different levels of maternal care is necessary. The new guidelines will also need to supplement the policies on the requirement of well-trained obstetricians and of low medical insurance fee.
Aged ; Birth Rate ; Classification ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Maternal-Child Health Services ; Mothers ; Patient Transfer ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the financial budget of light-curing composite resin fillings based on the expanded coverage of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), called “Moon Care.” METHODS: The estimated population with dental caries and the amount of light-curing composite resins used were determined. The fees for the resin fillings per tooth were considered for the calculations. The expected budget for the next five years for children and adolescents aged 5–12 and 5–19 years were calculated. RESULTS: During the first year of the coverage, the budget for children and adolescents aged <19 years was estimated to be 201.8 billion South Korean won (5–9 years, 17.9 billion South Korean won; 10–14 years, 76.6 billion South Korean won; and 15–19 years, 107.3 billion South Korean won). The total budget for the next five years for children and adolescents aged <19 years was estimated at 946.4 billion South Korean won. Likewise, the budget for children aged <12 years during the first year of the coverage was estimated at 63.9 billion South Korean won (5–9 years, 17.9 billion South Korean won and 10–12 years, 46 billion South Korean won), and the total budget for the next five years was estimated at 315.9 billion South Korean won. CONCLUSIONS: Government healthcare plans should be established based on treatment needs and financial estimations. All the items in the NHIS, including the light-curing composite resin filling, should be considered based on their contribution to oral health promotion. Furthermore, in the long term, the coverage for preventive health services should be included in the health insurance.
Adolescent ; Budgets ; Child ; Composite Resins ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Caries ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health ; Preventive Health Services ; Tooth