Implementation of the Chronic Disease Care System and its association with health care costs and continuity of care in Korean adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Abstract Background The Chronic Disease Care System (CDCS) has been implemented in Korea to encourage treatment continuity in chronic disease patients. This study investigated the effect of the introduction of the CDCS on health care costs and continuity of care in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The National Health Insurance data from August, 2010 to March, 2012 (pre-policy) and from May, 2012 to December, 2013 (post-policy) were used. Introduction of the CDCS was defined as the intervention. The intervention group consisted of T2DM patients participating in the program and the control group patients not participating in the program. The Difference-in-Differences (DID) method was used to estimate the differences in total health care costs for outpatient services and continuity of care between the intervention and the control group before and after the intervention period. Results Implementation of the CDCS was associated with decreased health care costs (β = − 46,877 Korean Won, P < 0.0001) and improved continuity of care (β = 0.0536, P < 0.0001) in the intervention group with adjustment for covariates. Conclusion Findings confirm an association between the adoption of the CDCS and reduced health care costs and improved continuity of care. The results reveal the potential benefits of reinforcing effective chronic disease management strategies in reducing health care costs and improving treatment continuity.

Keywords

• Chronic disease care system
• Primary health care
• Health care costs
• Continuity of care
• Treatment continuity
• Chronic disease