[Homogeneity of G-DRGs in ophthalmology].
BACKGROUND
Since the year 2004 hospitals in Germany are obliged to participate in a payment system based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG), which bases hospital reimbursement on the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the data of the first German national hospital cost data calculation for their homogeneity.


METHODS
The cases at the LMU hospital in Munich were calculated analogous to the national hospital cost data calculation for a period of 7 months. These exemplary data were then analyzed in detail for homogeneity.


RESULTS
For many DRGs, the numbers of cases in the analysis were within a range similar to those in the official nationwide calculation. The costs and lengths of stay were similar to those of the official national calculation.


CONCLUSIONS
Many ophthalmologic DRGs are quite inhomogeneous necessitating regrouping to avoid false incentives. For cases with high complexity the current system may lead to cost deficits especially for hospitals providing maximum care.
Gass
P
P
Augenklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
Neubauer
A S
AS
Kampik
A
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics