The final 2026 DRG (LKF) model published in Austria

On September 22, 2025, the final version of 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, and pulmonology fields. The preliminary version of the model was published on June 30, 2025.

For 2026, the main changes include the addition of 32 new procedure codes, the introduction of 19 procedure codes for billing in the day case settings, an update of case flat rates, and adjustments to the calculation of daily and procedural components per case. No new DRGs were introduced, and two new provisional (NUB) codes were added.

A significant methodological change compared to the previous LKF models is that the inpatient case flat rates for 2026 were calculated based on cases with two or more days of stay. Previously, day case stays were also included in the calculation and counted as one day of stay.

The 2026 model will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

Some examples of the introduced procedure codes are listed below:

• AA118 Implantation of subcutaneous EEG electrodes (LE=per session);
• DE540 Monitoring of an implanted cardiac device (LE=per session);
• HJ022 Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) – rectum (LE=per session);
• NE025 Arthroscopic surgery of the hip joint with arthroscopically assisted bone correction (LE=per side);
• ZN112 Thermal ablation of tumors/metastases in lymph nodes and soft tissues (LE=per session).

Also, two new provisional codes (NUB) are planned to be introduced in cardiovascular field, including code XN057 “Tricuspid valve replacement – catheter-based, transvascular (LE=per session)”. 

The XN codes are provisional and temporarily included in the DRG system until the benefits of the procedures are established.

The full details in German can be found here.

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