DRG

On November 13, 2025, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that the 2026 Hybrid DRGs catalog had been approved. A total of 47 new Hybrid DRGs were added, including those for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, as well as minimally invasive procedures on the coronary arteries and peripheral vessels. In the area of orthopedic procedures, Hybrid DRGs have been expanded to include fracture osteosynthesis

On November 17, 2025, NHS England published a draft 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme (NHSPS) and launched a consultation. While the overall payment model remains, some specific changes are proposed, including new blended payments for urgent and emergency care, radiotherapy, and genomic testing, as well as two new Best Practice Tariffs (BPT) to incentivize day case procedures, and 10 Year Health Plan referral-to-treatment (RTT) priorities. The deadline for comment submission is December 16, 2025.

In October 2025, the Norwegian Directorate of Health released a preliminary version of the DRG system (Innsatsstyrt finansiering, ISF) for 2026. In general, no significant changes were made in the system. Two new DRGs will be added in 2026 concerning cell therapy and radiotherapy.

In August 2025, the updated version of the intra-DRG list was published in France. One new device was registered in the neurovascular field (BOBBY balloon guide catheter). Another change concerned the renewal of the registration for one device.

On July 10, 2025, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that the extended Evaluation Committee has adopted the framework specifications for calculating Hybrid DRGs for 2026.

On June 30, 2025, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2026 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2026) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The procedure codes expected to be introduced in 2026 mainly concern e-health, endoscopy, interventional radiology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and robotic fields.

On May 01, 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the first release of the 2026 DRG package (RZ26a). Three new procedure codes, seven new supplementary payments (OZPs), one new diagnosis code, and two new DRGs will be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology and neurosurgery, cardiovascular and other technology groups.

On April 30, 2025, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that it had reached an agreement with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) on the further expansion of the Hybrid DRG catalog in 2026. The decision was made by the extended Evaluation Committee, as no consensus could be reached with the German Hospital Federation (DKG).

On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families published the Order setting DRG tariffs and tariffs for other packages and supplements for 2025. New tariffs are applicable from March 1, 2025.

In March 2025, the entity managing the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG, announced that they would be accepting applications for changes in the DRG system from June 2, 2025, until July 14, 2025. The results of the DRG applications made in 2025 will be reflected in the 2027 version of the SwissDRG.

On April 4, 2025, NHS England published the final NHS Payment Scheme (NHSPS) for the 2025/26 financial year (starting on April 1st), defining payment mechanisms for the provision of NHS-funded hospital and ambulatory care and some public health services. No significant changes were made to the general payment model. The key changes include the introduction of reimbursement for activities from Community Diagnostic Centres and a new Best Practice Tariff to incentivize shifting suitable procedures from day case/hospital to outpatient settings.

On March 6, 2025, NHS England released an annual update of the HRG4+ Local Payment Grouper for 2025/26, to come into effect on April 1, 2025. No new HRGs were added; the total number of HRGs has not changed (2,900).