The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) has responsibility for the development of the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG) classification. AR-DRGs are used in all public and private hospitals in Australia to group admitted acute episodes of care. Since 2000, a new version of AR-DRGs has generally been developed every 2 years. AR-DRG Version 4.2 was implemented in July 2000 and AR-DRG Version 10.0 will be released in mid-2019. There is a need to maintain clinical currency of the classification where benefits of more recent versions may be realised.
Following consultation with stakeholders IHPA advises that it will no longer support older versions of the AR-DRG classification. Accordingly from 1 July 2019 AR-DRG V4.2 (and any versions prior to this) will not be supported. The rolling timeline for phasing out support of subsequent versions is:
AR-DRG version
Proposed phase out date
Most current AR-DRG version
AR-DRG V4.0, 4.1, 4.2
1 July 2019
AR-DRG Version 10.0
AR-DRG V5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 6.0, 6.X and 7.0
1 July 2021
AR-DRG Version 11.0
AR-DRG V8.0 and 9.0
1 July 2023
AR-DRG Version 12.0
AR-DRG V10.0
1 July 2025
AR-DRG Version 13.0
IHPA will work closely with the private sector to assess the readiness for phase out at each stage. Please direct any enquiries in relation to this advice to Anne Elsworthy, Director AR-DRG Development, Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (anne.elsworthy@ihpa.gov.au).