Proposed Algorithm with Standard Terminologies (SNOMED and CPT) for Automated Generation of Medical Bills for Laboratory Tests / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we proposed an algorithm for mapping standard terminologies for the automated generation of medical bills. As the Korean and American structures of health insurance claim codes for laboratory tests are similar, we used Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) instead of the Korean health insurance code set due to the advantages of mapping in the English language. METHODS: 1,149 CPT codes for laboratory tests were chosen for study. Each CPT code was divided into two parts, a Logical Observation Identifi ers Names and Codes (LOINC) matched part (matching part) and an unmatched part (unmatched part). The matching parts were assigned to LOINC axes. An ontology set was designed to express the unmatched parts, and a mapping strategy with Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) was also proposed. Through the proceeding analysis, an algorithm for mapping CPT with SNOMED CT arranged by LOINC was developed. RESULTS: 75% of the 1,149 CPT codes could be assigned to LOINC codes. Two hundred and twenty-five CPT codes had only one component part of LOINC, whereas others had more than two parts of LOINC. The system of LOINC axes was found in 309 CPT codes, scale 555, property 9, method 42, and time aspect 4. From the unmatched parts, three classes, 'types', 'objects', and 'subjects', were determined. By determining the relationship between the classes with several properties, all unmatched parts could be described. Since the 'subject to' class was strongly connected to the six axes of LOINC, links between the matching parts and unmatched parts were made. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method may be useful for translating CPT into concept-oriented terminology, facilitating the automated generation of medical bills, and could be adapted for the Korean health insurance claim code set.

The study on the development of relative value in medical treatment of the oral and maxillofacial surgery

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reasonableness of the medical fee on oral and maxillofacial surgery field according to surgeon's opinions and actual conditions. The medical fee has significant influence on hospital income, the supply and distribution of medical manpower, quality and facilities of medical services. Questionnaire survey was sent to 86 oral and maxillofacial surgeons who worked more than 3 years in general hospital. Among them, 25 doctors replied the 109 answers survey and the average of treatment time and physician work relative value on each category was calculated. And the health insurance cost (that has been applied since 2003) was compared with the questionnaire results. And finally we investigated items that health insurance system did not include in oral and maxillofacial field but actually performed in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. The result was that the medical fee did not properly reflect physician work relative value of actual treatments. In case of complicated extraction, work relative value needed 3.5 times enhancement of present value. For simple impacted tooth extraction 1.8 times, for impacted tooth extraction including odontomy 1.7 times, and for fully impacted tooth more than 2/3 of it located into the alveolar bone, 1.8 times enhancement needed. In respect of the present physician work relative value, hemimandibulectomy with neck lymph node dissection for the malignancy is appropriated as 3.3 times of open reduction and internal fixation for the mandibular fracture, but the questionnaire result showed 25 times discrepancy. In conclusion, this research shows the need for intervention that health insurance included items and legal relative medical value must act in union with treatment in clinic to reduce the imbalance between them.

A Review of the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) of the U.S. Medicare System / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purposes of this study were 1) to review the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Act of the United States, 2) to introduce the efforts of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) to expand the Medicare coverage for MNT and 3) to provide information about the reimbursement under Medicare Part B for the cost of MNT. The MNT Act defined MNT services as "the nutritional diagnostic, therapeutic, and counseling services provided by a Registered Dietitian or nutritional professional for the purpose of managing diabetes or renal diseases". Also, the MNT Act defined "conditions for coverage of MNT", "limitations on coverage of MNT", and "qualifications of MNT service provider". To expand the coverage of Medicare to include MNT, the ADA realized the need for development of a protocol for MNT, as well as studies to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the MNT protocol developed. Therfore, the ADA supported the studies to develop a strong database of scientific investigations of nutritional services. Furthermore, the ADA needed credible data that could be used by policy makers, so the ADA contracted with the Lewin Group to carry out the study to gather the additional data needed to strengthen the ADA's position. In the report of the Lewin Group, which was entitled, "The Cost of Covering Medical Nutrition Therapy under Medicare: 1998 through 2004", it was concluded, that if coverage for MNT in the Part B portion of Medicare had begun in 1998, by 2004, approximately $ 2.3 billion would have been saved through reduced hospital spending under Part A of Medicare ($ 1.2 billion) and reduced physician visits under Part B ($ 1.1 billion). Effective January 1 2002, the US Congress extended Medicare coverage to include MNT to beneficiaries with diabetes or renal diseases. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the duration and frequency for the MNT based on published reports or generally accepted protocols (for example, protocols suggested by the ADA). The number of hours covered by Medicare is 3 hours for the initial MNT and 2 hours for a follow-up MNT. In 2002, a Medicare coverage policy was made to define the Physician's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 97802, 97803, and 97804 for MNT.