[Cost recovery for the treatment of retinal and vitreal diseases by pars plana vitrectomy under the German DRG system].
BACKGROUND
Since 2004 inpatient health care in Germany is paid according to calculated DRGs. Only a few university hospitals participated in distinct cost calculations of clinical treatment. It was the aim of this study to check the cost recovery at a University Eye Hospital for the surgical treatment of retinal and vitreal diseases by pars plana vitrectomy (ppV), which are included in DRGs C03Z and C17Z.


METHODS
The performance data for both DRGs were collected for the years 2005 and 2006 using the E1 sheets according to section 21 KHEntG. The mean duration of all procedures was collected by data from the internal controlling. Costs for single operations were calculated from fixed and variable costs for the operation theatre and the ward including costs for personnel and material.


RESULTS
In the 2-year period of 4,721 inpatient procedures 1,307 ppVs were performed. Each ppV had fixed surgical costs of 130.60 EUR; personnel costs varied between 575 EUR (C03Z; including cataract surgery; mean OP duration: 85 min) and 510 EUR (C17Z; no cataract surgery; mean OP duration: 73 min) at a proportion between general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia of 80/20. For a pure ppV material costs were 255 EUR. Additional adjuncts such as an encircling band, perfluorcarbon, ICG, tPA, gas and silicon oil or cataract surgery led to extra costs between 51 EUR and 250 EUR per adjunct und were used in 56% (C03Z) and 74.5% (C17Z) of all procedures. Costs for hospitalisation were about 1765 EUR at a mean residence time of 6.5 days. Thus, the overall costs of a pure basic ppV amounted to 2975 EUR (C03Z) and 2661 EUR (C17Z). In consideration of the current relative DRG weights of 1.08 and 0.957 and a current base rate of 2787.19 EUR in Bavaria, cost recovery is only given for basic ppV but not for complex ppVs having higher material and personnel costs. Additionally, the costs for multiple surgeries as occur in 5.9% of cases are not compensated by the DRG system.


CONCLUSIONS
The reimbursement for inpatient ppVs in a University environment is not covered for complex procedures requiring more cost-effective material and personnel time. To consider an adequate cost recovery for these procedures a DRG split for both DRGs (C03Z and C17Z) in basic ppVs and complex ppVs is required. We recommend this proposal for the InEK.
Framme
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C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Klinikum der Universität Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg. carsten.framme@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Franz
D
D
Mrosek
S
S
Helbig
H
H
D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D005245:Fee Schedules / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics*; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000191:economics; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000191:economics*; D014822:Vitreous Body