J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Sep;34(35):e229. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e229.

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

• Kim D
• Kim S
• Park HK
• Ha IH
• Jung B
• Ryu WH
• Lee SI
• Sung NJ

• KMID: 2456257
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e229

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.

Keyword

Usual Source of Care; Korea Health Panel Data; Panel Analysis; Health Expenditure; Primary Health Care

MeSH Terms

Health Expenditures
Humans
Inpatients
Korea*
Outpatients
Primary Health Care