Classifications

AR-DRG Version 6.0

The latest version of the AR-DRG Classification (Version 6.0) was released in November 2008.

New Features

AR-DRG version 6.0 incorporates the sixth edition of ICD-10-AM/ACHI codes within the basic structure of AR-DRG version 5.2. The AR-DRG numbering sequence is the same as version 5.2, which is no longer contiguous, and may not reflect the surgical and other hierarchies, in some MDCs. Long and short descriptions for MDCs, ADRGs and DRGs, and MDC/Partition/DRG structure are available at the bottom of this page.

New features of Version 6.0 are summarised below:
A full review of ventilation throughout the AG-DRG Classification was undertaken. This was done to ensure that this area remained relevant and kept up-to-date. It resulted in the deletion of the adjacent DRG A41 Intubation Age<16 and the creation of new adjacent DRGs.
B42 Nervous System Diagnosis W Ventilator Support,
F43 Circulatory System Diagnosis W Non-Invasive Ventilation,
T40 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases W Ventilator Support, and
X40 Injuries, Poisoning and Toxic Effect Drugs W Ventilator Support.

Some versions of 5.2 DRGs have been deleted or combined. For example, DRG I14Z Stump Revision was deleted as the number of separations was too low to retain this DRG.

Certain adjacent DRG's such as N02 Uterine, Adnexa Procedure for Ovarian or Adnexal Malignancy and N03 Uterine, Adnexa Procedure for Non-Ovarian or Adnexal Malignancy were combined into one - N12 Uterine, Adnexa Procedure for Malignancy, because they had very similar average cost.

New DRGs have also been created in version 6.0. These include the recognition of A10Z Insertion of Ventricular Assist Devices as a high cost DRG. This will allow for specific identification of this mini heart pump procedure.

The hierarchy order of adjacent DRGs in surgical partition has been revised. This change was necessary for a high cost procedure to group to a high cost adjacent DRG first to ensure consistency of the classification.

All DRG splits have been revised so that episodes with different resource consumption are separate into appropriate cost differentiated DRGs within the adjacent DRG. Such a revision ensures clinical relevance and statistical soundness of the classification.

In summary, these changes mean that the Australian DRGs reflect even more closely the hospital clinical environment and provide useful information for the understanding and management of acute care patients.

Descriptions

Below are the long and short descriptions of AR-DRG version 6.0 for MDCs, ADRGs and DRGs, and MDC/Partition/DRG structure previously available on CD.

MDC Long Descriptions (PDF 8 KB)
MDC Long Descriptions (TXT 2 KB)

MDC Short Descriptions (PDF 8 KB)
MDC Short Descriptions (TXT 2 KB)

ADRG Long Descriptions (PDF 17 KB)
ADRG Long Descriptions (TXT 15 KB)

ADRG Short Descriptions (PDF 21 KB)
ADRG Short Descriptions (TXT 34 KB)

DRG Long Descriptions (PDF 31 KB)
DRG Long Descriptions (TXT 62 KB)

DRG Short Descriptions (PDF 22 KB)
DRG Short Descriptions (TXT 25 KB)

MDC / Partition / DRG Structure (PDF 30 KB)
MDC / Partition / DRG Structure (TXT 43 KB)

Related Links

• AR-DRG definitions manual (version 6.0)