Reimbursement under DRGs: implementation in New Jersey. 1983

R H Davies, and G Westfall

This paper addresses the general concept of incorporating DRGs (Diagnosis Related Groups) into health care reimbursement systems and specifically addresses the problems and issues encountered in implementing a DRG-based hospital reimbursement system in the State of New Jersey during the period 1978-1982. We will frame the problem by briefly discussing the traditional problem with cost-based reimbursement systems, the objective and general methodology of patient classification, and the use of DRGs in hospital reimbursement. We then explore in some detail each phase of the process of constructing a workable prospective case-mix reimbursement system as it occurred in the State of New Jersey, discussing in particular the major reimbursement policy issues, their resolution, and impact on the system as a whole. Specific concerns addressed are patient data requirements, financial and statistical data requirements, the allocation of costs to patients, the development of prospective rates, the actual mechanics of payment, and current developments in New Jersey.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007350 Insurance, Hospitalization Health insurance providing benefits to cover or partly cover hospital expenses. Group Hospitalization,Hospitalization Insurance,Hospitalization, Group
D009515 New Jersey State bounded on the north by New York and Pennsylvania, on the east by New York and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Delaware Bay, and on the west by Pennsylvania.
D012051 Reimbursement Mechanisms Processes or methods of reimbursement for services rendered or equipment. Mechanism, Reimbursement,Mechanisms, Reimbursement,Reimbursement Mechanism
D003361 Cost Allocation The assignment, to each of several particular cost-centers, of an equitable proportion of the costs of activities that serve all of them. Cost-center usually refers to institutional departments or services. Cost Apportionment,Cost Shifting,Allocation, Cost,Allocations, Cost,Apportionment, Cost,Apportionments, Cost,Cost Allocations,Cost Apportionments,Cost Shiftings,Shifting, Cost,Shiftings, Cost
D003365 Costs and Cost Analysis Absolute, comparative, or differential costs pertaining to services, institutions, resources, etc., or the analysis and study of these costs. Affordability,Analysis, Cost,Cost,Cost Analysis,Cost Comparison,Cost Measures,Cost-Minimization Analysis,Costs and Cost Analyses,Costs, Cost Analysis,Pricing,Affordabilities,Analyses, Cost,Analyses, Cost-Minimization,Analysis, Cost-Minimization,Comparison, Cost,Comparisons, Cost,Cost Analyses,Cost Comparisons,Cost Measure,Cost Minimization Analysis,Cost, Cost Analysis,Cost-Minimization Analyses,Costs,Measure, Cost,Measures, Cost
D003953 Diagnosis-Related Groups A system for classifying patient care by relating common characteristics such as diagnosis, treatment, and age to an expected consumption of hospital resources and length of stay. Its purpose is to provide a framework for specifying case mix and to reduce hospital costs and reimbursements and it forms the cornerstone of the prospective payment system. Case Mix,DRG,Diagnosis Related Group,Diagnosis-Related Group,Case Mixes,DRGs,Diagnostic-Related Group,Group, Diagnostic-Related,Groups, Diagnostic-Related,Diagnosis Related Groups,Diagnostic Related Group,Diagnostic-Related Groups,Group, Diagnosis Related,Group, Diagnosis-Related,Group, Diagnostic Related,Groups, Diagnosis Related,Groups, Diagnosis-Related,Groups, Diagnostic Related,Related Group, Diagnosis,Related Groups, Diagnosis
D006278 Medicare Federal program, created by Public Law 89-97, Title XVIII-Health Insurance for the Aged, a 1965 amendment to the Social Security Act, that provides health insurance benefits to persons over the age of 65 and others eligible for Social Security benefits. It consists of two separate but coordinated programs: hospital insurance (MEDICARE PART A) and supplementary medical insurance (MEDICARE PART B). (Hospital Administration Terminology, AHA, 2d ed and A Discursive Dictionary of Health Care, US House of Representatives, 1976) Health Insurance for Aged and Disabled, Title 18,Insurance, Health, for Aged and Disabled,Health Insurance for Aged, Disabled, Title 18,Health Insurance for Aged, Title 18

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