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Effect of Having a Usual Source of Care on Medical Expenses - Using the Korea Health Panel Data.

ABSTRACT: 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.

SUBMITTER: Kim D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6732258 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of Having a Usual Source of Care on Medical Expenses - Using the Korea Health Panel Data.

Kim Doori D Kim Sollip S Park Hye Kyeong HK Ha In Hyuk IH Jung Boyoung B Ryu Won Hyung WH Lee Sang Il SI Sung Nak Jin NJ

Journal of Korean medical science 20190909 35

<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>The participants included those aged 20 years and older who responded to the questionnaire about "having a usu ...[more]

PMID: 31496140

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Project description:BackgroundCancer increases the risk of developing one or more chronic conditions, yet little research describes the associations between health care costs, utilization patterns, and chronic conditions in adults with cancer. The objective of this study was to examine the treated prevalence of chronic conditions and the association between chronic conditions and health care expenses in US adults with cancer.MethodsThis retrospective observational study used US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component (2010-2015) data sampling adults diagnosed with cancer and one or more of 18 select chronic conditions. The measures used were treated prevalence of chronic conditions, and total and chronic condition-specific health expenses (per-person, per-year). Generalized linear models assessed chronic condition-specific expenses in adults with cancer vs. without cancer and the association of chronic conditions on total health expenses in adults with cancer, respectively, by controlling for demographic and health characteristics. Accounting for the complex survey design in MEPS, all data analyses and statistical procedures applied longitudinal weights for national estimates.ResultsAmong 3657 eligible adults with cancer, 83.9% (n = 3040; representing 16 million US individuals per-year) had at least one chronic condition, and 29.7% reported four or more conditions. Among those with cancer, hypertension (59.7%), hyperlipidemia (53.6%), arthritis (25.6%), diabetes (22.2%), and coronary artery disease (18.2%) were the five most prevalent chronic conditions. Chronic conditions accounted for 30% of total health expenses. Total health expenses were $6388 higher for those with chronic conditions vs. those without (p < 0.001). Health expenses associated with chronic conditions increased by 34% in adults with cancer vs. those without cancer after adjustment.ConclusionsIn US adults with cancer, the treated prevalence of common chronic conditions was high and health expenses associated with chronic conditions were higher than those without cancer. A holistic treatment plan is needed to improve cost outcomes.

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Dataset Information

Effect of Having a Usual Source of Care on Medical Expenses - Using the Korea Health Panel Data.

Publications

Effect of Having a Usual Source of Care on Medical Expenses - Using the Korea Health Panel Data.

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