MS-DRG countdown: A review of how to prepare

The Oct. 1, 2007 implementation deadline for the new Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) is nearly upon us. Surprisingly, of the many hospitals that Ingenix has spoken with during its webinars and consulting engagements, many are still in the early stages of preparations. With Oct. 1 looming, hospitals should quickly assess the state of their preparations and implement any measures that can help them prevent unnecessary problems.

To help hospitals with their preparations, Ingenix is writing a series of “countdown” posts that will walk hospitals and their staffs through many of the preparations that need to take place before the deadline.

To kick off this countdown, the following is a condensed list of many relevant topics covered in this blog during the past several months that hospitals can review as they prepare:

Communications and Education

• Educate physicians
• Develop an MS-DRG communication plan

Coding and Documentation

• Evaluate current coding and documentation practices
• Hospital-acquired conditions that could reduce Medicare payments
• CMS issue present on admission reporting instructions
• Present on admission requirements, part 1
• Present on admission requirements, part 2

MS-DRG Grouper

• MS-DRG grouper available from NTIS
• Plan for dual DRGs

Measuring Financial Impact

• Q&A about the financial impact of MS-DRGs
• Leverage operational and financial metrics
• Model the financial impact of changes

Preparing for the Oct. 1 Deadline

• Develop an action plan
• Prepare for potential problems