Inpatient Facility Coding & Compliance Alert

Question: I've heard different opinions on what factors are considered during MS-DRG assignment. Can you clarify that for me?
Mississippi Subscriber
Answer: You should assign one MS-DRG to each inpatient stay. Several variables are considered in MS-DRG assignment:

• The principal diagnosis
• Additional diagnoses
• The principal procedure performed
• Additional procedures performed
• The patient's gender
• Discharge status

The diagnoses and procedures assigned by ICD-9 codes determine the correct MS-DRG assignment. Although some coders think the patient's age is a factor in MS-DRG assignment, it is not.