• O Lotter, P Jaminet, S Schwarzach, and H E Schaller.
• Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik, Klinik für Plastische, Hand-, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076, Tübingen, Deutschland. oliver.lotter@freenet.de
• Unfallchirurg. 2013 Feb 1;116(2):118-24.

BackgroundDiagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) are a patient classification system grouping related types of patients treated to the resources they consumed. In this analysis, we compared the Austrian and the German DRG systems.MethodThe 15 most common hand surgical diagnoses and their corresponding operative treatment were transferred into the Austrian system. Thus, the length of stay and the reimbursement of both countries could be obtained and compared.ResultsThe mean values and the median values of the upper and lower thresholds of length of stay as well as the average length of stay were all lower in Austria compared to Germany. Reimbursement in Germany was higher in 13 of 19 cases. Total proceeds amounted to 1.67 million in the German and 1.70 million in the Austrian health care system. Considering the purchasing power applying consumer prize parities, the difference of reimbursement between the countries rose to 130,000 which equals a difference of almost 8%.ConclusionReimbursement of the top 15 diagnoses in hand surgery in Austria is 8% higher than in Germany. Except for one case, mean values as well as upper and lower thresholds of length of stay are considerably shorter in Austria. Comparison of international data to refine a national compensation system is advocated.

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