Diagnosis-related groups and general hospital psychiatry: the APA Study

Psychiatric units in general hospitals are exempt from diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), a system of per case prospective payment that is used for the majority of patients covered by Medicare. The American Psychiatric Association purchased a large hospital discharge data base and studied the potentia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American journal of psychiatry Vol. 143; no. 2; p. 131
Main Authors English, J T, Sharfstein, S S, Scherl, D J, Astrachan, B, Muszynski, I L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.02.1986
Subjects
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Diagnosis-Related Groups - legislation & jurisprudence
Economics, Hospital
Hospitals, General - economics
Humans
Length of Stay - economics
Medicare - economics
Medicare - legislation & jurisprudence
Mental Disorders - therapy
Probability
Psychiatric Department, Hospital - economics
Reimbursement, Incentive - legislation & jurisprudence
United States
United States
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Summary:Psychiatric units in general hospitals are exempt from diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), a system of per case prospective payment that is used for the majority of patients covered by Medicare. The American Psychiatric Association purchased a large hospital discharge data base and studied the potential impact of DRGs on psychiatric patients and inpatient psychiatric units in general hospitals. There was substantial inaccuracy in the psychiatric DRGs' prediction of resource use, which could lead to inappropriate discharge of patients and financial risk to hospitals that treat more severe cases. The authors advocate further research because psychiatry must anticipate prospective payment in the future.
ISSN:0002-953X
1535-7228
DOI:10.1176/ajp.143.2.131