Use of Western Medicine and Traditional Korean Medicine for Joint Disorders: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis Based on Korean Nationwide Insurance Data

Table 6

Comparison of medical costs by type of medicine in 2011–2014.

Unit	Year	Type of medicine	Frequency		Insurance charge			LOS
				%		%	Per	Days per
H	2011	WM	8,499	97.75	16,542	99.37	162,276	10.98
		TM	196	2.25	105	0.63	53,097	12.23
		Total	8,695	100	16,647	100	159,815	11.01
	2012	WM	10,560	97.05	18,063	99.03	157,605	9.67
		TM	321	2.95	178	0.97	57,256	12.18
		Total	10,881	100	18,240	100	154,644	9.75
	2013	WM	12,152	96.79	19,969	98.65	155,222	9.31
		TM	403	3.21	216	1.35	62,217	10.78
		Total	12,555	100	20,185	100	152,237	9.35
	2014	WM	13,759	96.35	20,077	98.65	154,829	8.51
		TM	521	3.65	276	1.35	60,435	10.72
		Total	14,280	100	20,353	100	151,385	8.59
O	2011	WM	974,537	66.19	23,827	71.81	22,030	1.2
		TM	497,877	33.81	9,354	28.19	18,573	1.04
		Total	1,472,414	100	33,181	100	20,861	1.15
	2012	WM	1,054,900	68.13	24,848	72.24	23,555	1.12
		TM	493,535	31.87	9,551	27.76	19,352	1.03
		Total	1,548,435	100	34,399	100	22,215	1.09
	2013	WM	1,075,935	68.03	26,203	72.24	24,354	1.11
		TM	505,652	31.97	10,071	27.76	19,917	1.03
		Total	1,581,587	100	36,274	100	22,935	1.08
	2014	WM	1,092,995	68.93	27,887	73.19	25,514	1.1
		TM	492,651	31.07	10,218	26.81	20,740	1.03
		Total	1,585,646	100	38,104	100	24,031	1.08

patient could be hospitalized more than once during the study period, which resulted in more than one claim per patient. Thus, the number of claims in the study was higher than the number of patients. determined to be eligible for reimbursement by the HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) out of the total treatment amount were indicated in the submitted insurance claim statement. Costs are expressed in Korean Won (1,000,000 KRW). diem is the average daily cost of services covered by National Health Insurance. It is expressed in Korean Won. per episode are the total number of reimbursed days divided by the total number of episodes. The number of reimbursed days includes the number of hospitalized days or outpatient visits and in-care drug prescription days. H, hospitalization; O, outpatient; WM, Western medicine; TM, Korean traditional medicine.