[Hospital financing in 2016. Relevant changes for rheumatology]. / Krankenhausfinanzierung 2016. Relevantes für die internistische Rheumatologie.

Hospital financing 2016 will be influenced by the prospects of the approaching considerable changes. It is assumed that the following years will lead to a considerable reallocation of financial resources between hospitals. While not directly targeted by new regulations, reallocations always also affect specialties like rheumatology. Compared to the alterations in the legislative framework the financial effects of the yearly adaptation of the German diagnosis-related groups system are subordinate. Only by comprehensive consideration of current and expected changes a forward-looking and sustainable strategy can be developed. The following article presents the relevant changes and discusses the consequences for hospitals specialized in rheumatology.

[Cardiovascular medicine in the German diagnosis-related group--(G-DRG) system 2005]. / Die Herz-Kreislauf-Medizin in der deutschen Fallpauschalen--(G-DRG)-Systematik 2005.

The German diagnosis-related Group (G-DRG) System has recently been published in its third version. From 2005 on, this system will be the definite measure for the budgets of nearly all german hospitals. The preliminary phase with no budget reduction or redistribution being made and in which an inappropriate classification system had no negative impact on reimbursement has, thus, come to an end. At present, many hospitals are struggling in an economic competition about the independence or maintenance of the hospital or several sub-departments. The changes in the classification system with regard to a marked increase in the number of G DRGs, a modified grouping-logic, more properly determined reductions and extra charges for low and high outlier as well as the introduction of further additional charges contribute thereby to a better covering of services and treatments of cardiovascular patients. However, while many of the known problems have been eliminated, there are still weaknesses in the G-DRG System even concerning cardiovascular medicine. The G-DRG System has to be adapted continuously with consultation of the clinical expertise of the respective medical societies. The most important new aspects and changes in the G-DRG System 2005 and the accompanied execution regulations are explained with special view on cardiology.

[Outpatient operations and inpatient care changes according to section sign 115 b SGB V]. / Ambulante Operationen und stationsersetzende Eingriffe nach section sign 115 b SGB V.

The German self-governing bodies have concluded an agreement about ambulant operations and procedures which replaces the inpatient health care situation. It came into force on January 1, 2004. The published catalogue contains specific treatment procedures which define more clearly some problems that occur between the provision of outpatient and inpatient services in the German health care system. Clinical physicians and practising specialists now have equal rights to provide and to charge for the ambulant services that are included in this agreement. These conditions will play a role in the daily routine of hospitals and will influence treatment patterns. A comprehensive knowledge of the basic principles is essential. In the present article, the compulsory agreement and some resulting consequences are elucidated with special relevance to gastroenterology.

[Ambulatory procedures to replace inpatient care. Background and applications]. / Ambulante Operationen und stationsersetzende Massnahmen. Hintergrund und Anwendung.

Since January 2004, German hospitals and specialists in private practice have equal rights to provide and to charge for ambulatory surgeries according to paragraph 115b, 5th Code of Social Law. The current agreement between the German self-governing bodies replaces the existing contracts from 1993. In contrast to the previous version, the revised catalogue contains additional non-operative procedures. Some procedures may be provided either in an ambulatory or inpatient setting. However, for the hospitals it is of particular importance that some specified procedures should be performed on an ambulatory basis. If these particular services are delivered in an inpatient setting at least one stipulated criteria of exception has to be fulfilled. From the perspective of dermatology, not only opportunities but also obligations for ambulatory care arise from the new conditions. The critical facts and aspects with special relevance to dermatology are reviewed in detail.

[Cardiovascular medicine in the updated German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG) for the year 2004]. / Abbildung der Herz-Kreislauf-Medizin im deutschen Fallpauschalen-(G-DRG)-System 2004.

Based on the medical and economical data of 137 German hospitals including 12 university hospitals, the Institut für das Entgeltsystem im Krankenhaus (InEK) was again authorized by the German Ministry of Health to calculate and develop a refined version of the German diagnosis related groups (G-DRG) for the year 2004. The catalogue of these updated GDRGs was published on October 15' 2003. Furthermore, the grouper programs containing the current algorithms and the cost data on which the new G-DRGs were based have been published in the last few weeks. With regard to cardiovascular DRGs, a number of changes have been introduced in the G-DRG system which have profound consequences for all departments that treat patients with these diseases. In this review, we want to present in detail the key points of this update concerning the DRGs, extra reimbursement for special interventions, and new codes for diagnoses and procedures. Furthermore, the new rules for readmissions of patients in the same hospital are summarized. In conclusion, a number of improvements have been implemented in the updated G-DRG system which had in part been suggested by several national medical societies. These provide the basis for more precise and detailed DRGs but require on the other hand, a precise and complete coding to allow correct grouping procedures. From an economical point of view, it could hardly be summarized whether these improvements would lead to an adequate reimbursement for the treatment costs of patients with cardiovascular diseases since the case-mix of the various departments may vary widely.

[Gastroenterology in the G-DRG-System 2004]. / Gastroenterologie im G-DRG-System 2004.

After a year of preliminary voluntarily introduction of casemix funding in hospitals in 2003 nearly every German hospital will be confronted with lump sump payments on the basis of the G-DRG system for their inpatient care starting from January 2004. To analyse weaknesses referring to gastroenterology services within the G-DRG version 1.0 the German Association for Disorders of the Digestive System and Metabolism (DGVS) and the DRG-Research-Group from the University of Muenster conducted a DRG evaluation project. In the analysis patient data from 16 hospitals were included. As a result of the project recommendations for G-DRG adjustments were generated. Those recommendations were implemented in the advancement to G-DRG version 2004. Also the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was modified to ICD-10 German Modification. The classification of procedures OPS-301 was revised. The main adjustments to the G-DRG system and both classifications will be presented in this paper.

[Evaluating the first German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG) in cardiological patients: problems in the correct medical and economic grouping]. / Probleme bei der Abbildung kardiologischer Erkrankungen im deutschen Fallpauschalen-System (G-DRG).

About three years ago, the German Government initiated a complete change in the reimbursement system for costs of the in-hospital treatment of patients. A commission of representatives from every component of the German health system decided to adapt the Australian refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG system). The AR-DRG system was selected as it would fit best to the German system and because of its high flexibility and preciseness reflecting severity of diseases and treatments. In October 2002, the first German Diagnosis Related Groups (G-DRGs) were calculated from the data of about 116 hospitals. These data now allow first analyses in how far a correct and precise grouping of patients in specific hospital settings is indeed performed and corresponds to the actual costs. Thus, we thoroughly calculated all costs for material and personnel during the in-hospital stay for each patient discharged during the first 4 months of 2002 from our cardiological department. After performing the grouping procedure for each patient, we analyzed in how far inhomogeneous patient distribution in the DRGs occurred and which impact this had on costs and potential reimbursements. Several different problems were identified which should be outlined in this work regarding three G-DRGs: costs of patients who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (F01Z) were markedly influenced by multimorbidity and additional expensive interventions which were not reflected by this G-DRG. Use of numerous catheters and expensive drugs represented a major factor for costs in patients with coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction (F10Z) but seemed to be not sufficiently included in the cost weight. A specific area of patient management in our department is high frequency ablation of tachyarrhythmias which is included in other percutaneous interventions (F19Z). Complex procedures such as ablation of ventricular tachycardia or new innovative procedures as ablation of atrial fibrillation were associated with high costs leading to inadequate reimbursement. Furthermore, problems in the associated codes for diseases and procedures became apparent. Opportunities for future optimization such as specific new DRGs, splitting of DRGs, or the impact of changes in reimbursement for high-outliers were discussed.