German government suffers "surprise" DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) law setback
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The German hospitals' association (DKG) and the association of hospital-based doctors and staff (Marburger Bund) are rejoicing after the Upper House (Bundesrat) blocked a move by the federal government to introduce the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) system for hospital reimbursement. The decision marks the end of a week of intense speculation within the German health service and could signal a severe delay in the introduction of the DRG law.