Short Info: MS-DRG (USA)

A refinement of Medicare's HCFA-DRG system in the shape of the SRDRGs was proposed as early as 1994. The new system was then introduced in 2007/08 as MSDRG system. It basically consists of a re-calculated SRDRG system, which is a DRG system using three severity grades, but only one general CC list and one general MCC list. The most severe secondary diagnosis determines the severity level; all other secondary diagnoses have no influence on the MSDRG assignment.

The 2008 system consists of 745 MSDRGs (defined within 335 base MSDRGs). Corresponding to Medicare's target population, the MSDRG system is a DRG system that reflects treatments offered to patients of over 65 years of age.