[G-DRG System 2005. Analysis and evaluation of significant changes from the viewpoint of HNO medical science]

With the release of the new Global Case Agreement by Self Administration in Public Health on the 16 September 2004, the adjustment of the G-DRG System for the year 2005 was completed. Otorhinolaryngology, and head and neck surgery face several changes in the fields of diagnosis and procedural coding (ICD-10-GM 2005, OPS-301 2005), G-DRG case allocation, and extra reimbursements for special interventions. Despite some considerable improvements, substantial problems remain unsolved. This paper presents and comments on the key points of the G-DRG System for 2005 for otorhinolaryngology, and head and neck surgery.