DRG

In late November – early December 2023, the application period for 2025 ICD-10-GM (German modification of ICD-10 diagnosis codes), OPS (procedure codes), and DRG changes was opened by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK) respectively.

On November 30, 2023, the entity managing the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG, published the final version of the 2024 DRG system. In total, 34 new DRGs were introduced, and they concern cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, men’s health, nephrology and urology, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonary, and some other technology groups. Also, two new add-on reimbursement categories were introduced.

On November 14, 2023, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog) with the list of DRGs and additional reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2024.

On November 7, 2023, the annual update of the Swedish NordDRG system was published to come into force on January 1, 2024. A total of 16 new DRGs will be implemented concerning ENT, radiology, and primary care.

In October 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published a policy rule that defines the amount for academic care contribution and the rules for its allocation in 2024. The policy rule aims to determine the reimbursement for costs that arise for certain healthcare providers because they permanently maintain facilities (staff and infrastructure) that enable them to provide highly specialized and innovative care linked to fundamental patient-centered research.

On September 28, 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the second release of the DRG package for 2024 (RZ24b). One new procedure code, two new supplementary payments, and three new DRGs will be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, urology, and cardiovascular technology groups.

On July 25, 2023, the final version of the DRG manual for 2023 was published. Introduced changes relate to the MDC14, coding of gender in patients under three months of age, and performance of acts inconsistent with the declared sex in transsexual patients.

On July 31, 2023, the Danish Health Data Authority opened the application period for changes in the 2025 DRG logic, including the creation of new DRG codes and changes in the grouping logic for existing DRGs. The deadline for the submission of the applications is November 10, 2023.

On July 3, 2023, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2024 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2024) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The newly added procedure codes mainly concern endoscopic procedures, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, and pulmonary and airways fields.

On June 5, 2023, the application window for submitting applications for changes in the Swiss nomenclature of surgical procedures (CHOP), as well as for the SwissDRG system, was open. The deadline for submission of CHOP applications is September 17, while the deadline for SwissDRG submissions is July 17.

On April 20, 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the first release of the DRG package for 2024 (RZ24a). Twenty-three new procedure codes, nine new supplementary payments, and thirteen new DRGs will be implemented across gynecology, pulmonary, extracorporeal treatments, and other technology groups.

On March 31, 2023, the Agency for Technical Hospital Information published the 2023 DRG tariffs and tariffs for other packages and supplements.