Newsletter March 2024
A summary of the latest information on the activities of the CKS DRG.
Methodology for calculating the PCCL
In collaboration with the grouper vendors, we have standardized the methodology for calculating the PCCL for 2024. There has been a precise definition of the process for excluding diagnoses from each other's calculations based on their similarity. The ranking and ordering of diagnoses is very important in the culling process and there was no fixed order for diagnoses with the same CCL value. Under the new methodology, diagnoses are ranked according to a number of keys, with the final ranking always fixed. This makes the subsequent process of culling and PCCL calculation uniform.
Certification training
The Classification System in Healthcare certificate program is CLOSED at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University, which has already opened applications. Health professions - doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, physiotherapist, public health worker, laboratory diagnostician, radiology technician, medical laboratory technician - can apply for the training so far. The course is primarily focused on the correct reporting of hospital cases, but participants will learn a comprehensive understanding of the entire DRG system. The 1st course starts in April, lasts 6 months and is completed with a certification exam. CKS is further working to open the training to non-medical staff as well.
Approach to the inclusion of new medicines in the SK-DRG 2025 system
The Steering Committee approved an approach for inclusion of new medicines in the SK-DRG 2025 based on the principle of evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a medicine in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. The detailed methodology will be published in Q2 2024.
Benchmarks
The following benchmark reports of 2022 annual benefit data are available for providers on the CKS portal:
The files are available for download for logged in users in the "Portal\Benchmarks" section on the link: Portal Login | CKS DRG. A video recording of the workshop on benchmarking is available in the news section. For suggestions for improvement or questions, please contact us via email: cksdrg@health.gov.sk.
When using Benchmarks, it should be taken into account that the data contained in them should be viewed as stimuli for further analysis, not as ready-made facts. For example, a lower reported cost per hospital admission may not only be due to greater efficiency, but also to incorrect allocation of staff time, inadequate recording of direct drug consumption per patient, or for many other reasons.
Seminar on allocation of DRGs
On February 28, 2024, an online seminar on DRG allocation of DRG allotments was held to improve the data quality in the DRG annual benefit for 2023. The recording of the seminar can be found here. The documents mentioned in the seminar that providers can use in their allocation of time allotments can be found on the CKS website in the education section. In the future, we plan to edit and improve this documentation based on your suggestions. These modifications will be listed at the end of the powerpoint document (also located on the CKS website in the education section).
The documents serve as supplementary material that aims to assist providers in allocating time in accordance with the Calculation Manual. These are not binding documents, rather they are a way in which the CCC would like to help individual PHCs to better process batch data.
Planned schedule and next dates