§ 412.60 DRG classification and weighting factors.

(a) Diagnosis-related groups. CMS establishs a classification of inpatient hospital discharges by Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs).

(b) DRG weighting factors. CMS assigns, for each DRG, an appropriate weighting factor that reflects the estimated relative cost of hospital resources used with respect to discharges classified within that group compared to discharges classified within other groups, subject to a maximum ten percent reduction to the weighting factor for a DRG as compared to the weighting factor for the same DRG for the prior fiscal year.

(c) Assignment of discharges to DRGs. CMS establishs a methodology for classifying specific hospital discharges within DRGs which ensures that each hospital discharge is appropriately assigned to a single DRG based on essential data abstracted from the inpatient bill for that discharge.