Newsletter June 2025

A summary of the latest information on the activities of the CKS DRG.

One-day healthcare

In the context of same-day healthcare, the CKS DRG published in the last quarter an update of the MoH Expert Guideline on the provision of same-day healthcare. At the same time, CKS DRG transparently communicates in advance a list of suggestions for the adjustment of the NICU in the next year, which will be taken into account in particular in the Definition Manual, while CKS DRG thus also recommends to take into account already now the above in the NICU system in the DRG - the above is published in the Overview of recommendations for coding of NICU procedures in the classification system SK-DRG 2025. The above will also serve as a source of adjustments for the JHS for next year, so if you register other suggestions from practice that need to be incorporated into the JHS in DRG, please let us know via the JHS section of the feedback questionnaire.

PvPP, KP

On 24.6.2025, the Steering Committee approved an updated version of the document, which also bears a new title: the Rules defining the calculation of the case lump sum and the rules for the aggregation of classification cases, which include health care provided by providers using the classification system, with effect from 1.1.2026.

Several changes have been made to the document, in particular the generalisation of terms, the redefinition of the hospitalisation case and the resulting changes. The content resulting from the CCP has been added (column Method of calculation and Annexes 5 and 6). The definition of cases of less than 24 hours has also been added to 2.1.13 Treatment time. An overview of all the changes made is available in the change document.

Calculation guide

An update of the Calculation Manual for 2026 - version 5.1 was prepared at the meetings of the Economic and Data Working Group. Compared to version 5.0, there are minor changes of a technical nature:

• Corrections (alignment with the Data Interface)
• Adjustments to wording in the text of the CP and in the annexes (for better understanding and alignment with practice)
• Deletion of the notes on transition periods (for the modifications related to the NICU and births - the transition period was valid until 1.1.2025)

All changes were approved at the April 29, 2025 Steering Committee meeting. An updated version 5.1 of the Calculation Manual with all incorporated changes is available on the CCS website.

DRG Benefit Accuracy Evaluation and Corrections for 2024

During the months of April, May and June, the collection and validation of the annual DRG benefits for 2024 took place. 87 PHCS submitted the benefits. A total of 292 benefits were received and processed, with providers taking advantage of the option to submit multiple corrections. As of June 20, the submission of annual benefits was complete and a total of 54 benefits were accepted. The number of valid HPs totaled 726,894, representing 88.2% of all HPs. Compared to last year, validation checks have been extended and tightened, while the quality of reporting by the PHCS has improved.

Education

The concept of education and access to medical codes at the PHCUs in the SK-DRG has been implemented in practice. More than 50 medical coders are now successfully certified in Slovakia. The Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University has already launched the long-announced DRG course for all, including non-medical staff. For more information about the ongoing courses at the Faculty of Medicine, click here. CKS DRG supports the decentralisation of education and the extension of education to other institutions, as education is the key to success to a properly set up and used SK-DRG system.

Work in progress...

• Data interfaces
• Relative weights
• Attributable items
• List of health interventions
• Definition Guide
• Basic rates
• DRG contracts