[Total hip replacement in the G-DRG-system]. / Hüftgelenks-Endoprothetik im DRG-System.

AIM: Due to the continuing increase in life expectancy, the ageing process of the German population in general and the high demands placed on activity levels and quality of life today, the demand for primary and secondary joint replacement surgery continues to increase. To distribute the economic and medical resources properly, while still making technical and surgical innovations available to a broad public, hospitals must be able to adequately finance these procedures with the help of the proper diagnosis related groups. METHOD: The development of the German DRG-system over the past years, as well as the new calculation for the year 2006 are to be reviewed and analysed in this article with this in mind. RESULTS: An improvement in the degree of differentiation between the individual procedures can be documented. CONCLUSION: Whether or not these changes will ensure the long-term financial survival of the German health care system will remain to be seen.

[Revision surgery for knee prostheses using the DRG system]. / Wechseloperationen in der Kniegelenkendoprothetik im DRG-System.

Due to an increasing life expectancy and earlier primary implantation of total knee replacements, the number of patients requiring revision surgery in Germany is increasing by 7% every year. These revision cases belong to the most treatment and cost intensive operations in joint replacement surgery. Presently, the description of these procedures in the German DRG system, which defines the financial reimbursement for the hospitals, is changing yearly with the development of new catalogues. The changes made from 2003 to 2005 are outlined in the following article. A correct depiction of the treatment and procedures required in such cases is a prerequisite for an adequate reimbursement. In the long-term, hospitals will only be able to offer such complex treatment forms if the financial compensation correctly reflects the costs incurred.