Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRGs)

DRGs are a patient classification system that provide a clinically meaningful way of relating the types of patients treated in a hospital to the resources required by the hospital.

In this section:

The latest version of the AR-DRG Classification (Version 6.0) was released in November 2008. It is a major update to the classification and incorporates the sixth edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), The Australian Classification of Health Interventions (ACHI) and The Australian Coding Standards (ACS).

AR-DRG Classification Development

Development of the AR-DRG Classification is an on-going process. It has been produced by the Department of Health and Ageing, in consultation with the Clinical Casemix Committee of Australia, Clinical Classification and Coding Groups, the University of Wollongong (UoW), State and Territory health authorities, and other organisations.

A key component of Australia’s success in the development and use of AR-DRGs at the national level has been the active involvement of clinicians through a national casemix committee. This clinical input ensures that the correct procedure and diagnosis codes are placed in the most appropriate AR-DRG and that all AR-DRGs are clinically accurate.

Australian DRG classifications with corresponding ICD coding editions

DRG classification	Release date	ICD coding system / implementation date
AN-DRG V1.0	Jul 1992	ICD-9-CM / Oct 1991 (USA)
AN-DRG V2.0	Jul 1993	ICD-9-CM / Oct 1992 (USA)
AN-DRG V2.1	Jul 1994	ICD-9-CM / Oct 1993 (USA)
AN-DRG V3.0	Jul 1995	ICD-9-CM 1^st edition / Jul 1995 (Aust)
AN-DRG V3.1	Jul 1996	ICD-9-CM 2^nd edition / Jul 1996 (Aust)
AN-DRG V3.2	Dec 1997	ICD-9-CM 2^nd edition / Jul 1996 (Aust)
AR-DRG V4.0	Jul 1998	ICD-9-CM 2^nd edition / Jul 1996 (Aust)
AR-DRG V4.1	Dec 1998	ICD-10-AM 1^st edition / Jul 1998 (Aust)
AR-DRG V4.2	Dec 2000	ICD-10-AM 2^nd edition / Jul 2000 (Aust)
AR-DRG V5.0	Sep 2002	ICD-10-AM 3^rd edition / Jul 2002 (Aust)
AR-DRG V5.1	Sep 2004	ICD-10-AM 4^th edition / Jul 2004 (Aust)
AR-DRG V5.2	Sep 2006	Australian Coding Classification (ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS) 5^th edition / Jul 2006
AR-DRG V6.0	Nov 2008	Australian Coding Classification (ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS) 6^th edition / Jul 2008

Structure of the AR-DRG Classification

The AR-DRG Classification is based on hierarchies of diagnoses and procedures distributed between surgical, medical and other partitions. The grouping process includes the following tasks in order:
1. Demographic and clinical edits
2. Major Diagnostic Category (MDC) assignment
3. Pre-MDC processing
4. Adjacent DRG (ADRG) assignment
5. Complication and comorbidity level (CCL) and patient clinical complexity level (PCCL) assignment
6. DRG assignment`

For further information about the AR-DRG numbering system and the DRG assignment process please contact casemix.queries@health.gov.au.

AR-DRG Definitions Manuals

AR-DRG Definitions Manuals are produced and published by the Department for each version of the AR-DRG (from AR-DRG Version 4.1 onwards). The manuals describe the method of the classification, and aim to clarify the DRG assignment process. The AR-DRG Definitions Manuals are available for purchase from the UoW for licensed countries.

Classification Development Software

AR-DRG Classification Toolkit is PC-based multi-user software that facilitates DRG classification development. The Toolkit enables users to develop and analyse DRG classifications independently.

Grouper Software Testing and Licensing

Software for grouping patient records under the AR-DRG Classification is available from a number of software developers.