Horizontal healthcare utilization inequity in patients with rare diseases in Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rare diseases (RDs) are difficult to diagnose and expensive to treat. Thus, the South Korean government has implemented several policies to help RD patients, including the Medical Expense Support Project, supporting low- to middle-income RD patients. However, no study in Korea has yet addressed health inequity in RD patients. This study assessed inequity trends in the medical utilization and expenditures of RD patients.

Methods

This study measured the horizontal inequity index (HI) of RD patients and an age- and sex-matched control group using the National Health Insurance Service data from 2006 to 2018. Sex, age, number of chronic diseases, and disability variables were used to model expected medical needs and adjust the concentration index (CI) for medical utili

SUBMITTER: Kang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10190067 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature