New DRG system introduced in Greece

Since 2019, the Greek DRG Institute (ΚΕ.ΤΕ.Κ.Ν.Υ.) and German DRG administrator InEK have been working on the development and implementation of a new Greek DRG (Gr-DRG) system. The Gr-DRG system is based on the Greek modification of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, based on the 2013 German Amendment of ICD-10 (ICD-10-GM), and a systematic catalog of codes of medical procedures called Greek Medical Procedure Classification (GMPC), based on corresponding international procedural classification (e.g., German OPS). Each DRG in the DRG list has an individual cost weight.

On December 23, 2023, the Joint Ministerial Decision of the Minister of National Economy and Finance and the Minister of Health, Labor, And Social Security on the implementation of the Hospital Services Costing System (Συ.Κ.Ν.Υ) based on Gr-DRG was published in the Greek Official Gazette. The system has been implemented in all hospitals of two health districts (Crete and Macedonia) and some other hospitals defined in the Joint Decision since January 01, 2024. In other health districts, the system will enter into force from March 01, 2024. 

The DRG system covers hospitalization cases, including inpatient stays of at least one night, day cases on hospital beds, and chemotherapy. The DRG tariff is calculated by multiplying the individual DRG cost weight on the reference hospital weight and adjusted salary cost reduction index (as the national health insurance E.O.P.Y.Y. does not reimburse the salary cost of hospitalizations that fall under the National Insurance Scheme in the hospitals of the National Health System). 

Certain services are reimbursed outside of the DRG system, including radiotherapy performed in outpatient settings, renal replacement therapy in Artificial Kidney Units of public hospitals, and pre-operative check-ups without subsequent admission to the hospital.

See more information in Greek here.

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