Problems and Potential Improvements of National Health Insurance Fees Associated with Miniscalpel Acupuncture

Objectives : The objective of this study is to discuss problems and potential improvements of national health insurance fees associated with miniscalpel acupuncture according to Korean medical doctors`` workload, material cost and degree of risk. Methods : We researched the change of relative value points, national health insurance fees, the acupuncture process, and Korean medicine doctors`` workload related to Miniscalpel acupuncture, as compared to general meridian point acupuncture. We also examined material cost by surveying pharmacies, internet shopping malls and medical appliance shops. Results : Relative value point for Miniscalpel acupuncture decreased from 2010 to 2012, and remained the same from 2012 to 2016. National health insurance fees for Miniscalpel acupuncture increased by a small margin annually for rise of equivalent index. There was no reporting on workload related to Miniscalpel acupuncture. Material cost of Miniscalpel acupuncture was 18.2~20.7 times higher than actual cost of procedure. There were few studies examining medical accidents related to Miniscalpel acupuncture, and thus we could not evaluate degree of risk. Conclusion : We suggest revaluating Korean medical doctors`` workload related to including Miniscalpel acupuncture, to consider the material costs of Miniscalpel acupuncture, and investigate its degree of risk by researching medical accidents.