APR-DRGs (All Patient Refined- Diagnosis Related Groups) classify patients into clinically related categories based on their medical condition and severity of illness. There are four "severity of illness" levels – Minor, Moderate, Major, Extreme.
Within the APR-DRGs, the number of cases, the average charge per case, and the average charge per day by Maryland acute hospitals are listed. “Average Charge per Case” is the average charge for cases in the APR-DRG at each hospital after the charge has been weighted by the statewide severity distribution for the APR-DRG (this creates a severity-adjusted average charge). This average charge does not include physician fees. “Average Charge per Day” is the severity adjusted average charge divided by the average length of stay for patients in an APR-DRG at each hospital. Each hospital’s average charge can be affected by a number of factors, including:
- Patients’ severity of illness
- Wage levels and the price of goods and services in its locality
- The amount of teaching it does
- The amount of uncompensated care it provides to patients
The above factors are reflected in the amount that Maryland hospitals are allowed to charge for services. In addition, the average charge for each APR-DRG is weighted by the statewide severity distribution for that category.
A weighted charge is the average charge per APR-DRG with weights being the severity level percent of that APR-DRG for the entire state.
If you would like to see the APR-DRG associated with a medical condition, scroll to the bottom right corner of the page and select the “Show APR-DRG ID” box.