[DRGs and daily rates of pay in psychosomatics: 2002-2005].
OBJECTIVE
Over the last years the use of diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG) was introduced into most areas of the German health care system, which led to changed compensation for departments outside the G-DRG system as well. We evaluated the development of revenues in 17 different psychosomatic departments over the last three years.


METHODS
Our analyses were based on official daily rates for each of the clinics included. If daily rates changed within one year, we used the average daily rate for that year.


RESULTS
Together all departments provided 547 in-patient beds for the treatment of acute psychosomatic patients. With 85% occupancy all departments would achieve a revenue of 62.5 million euro in 2005, two million euro less than three years previously. Due to the introduction of the German DRG system their average income was reduced by approx. 3%. The loss was greater for psychosomatic departments at larger hospitals, which have a higher percentage of departments included in the G-DRG system.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of the G-DRG system leads to reduced revenues for departments outside the G-DRG system, while performance was expected to remain at the same level and costs have increased. Thus, to ensure the spectrum of psychosomatic medicine as it is today, it has become increasingly important to demonstrate the real costs of treatment to political decision makers.
Lohmann
Rüdiger
R
Lohmann & Birkner, Health Care Consulting GmbH, Berlin. lohmann@lohmann-birkner.de
Rose
Matthias
M
Danzer
Gerhard
G
Herzog
Wolfgang
W
Riegel
Theo
T
Klapp
Burghard F
BF
D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics*