Diagnosis-related groups for mental disorders, alcoholism, and drug abuse: evaluation and alternatives

Under the new federal prospective payment system, 15 of the 467 diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) cover mental disorders, including alcohol and substance abuse. The authors compare these 15 DRGs with some criteria of an ideal patient classification system. According to their assessment, the DRGs for mental disorders pose no administrative problems, but are not sufficiently homogeneous within categories or heterogeneous between categories. The authors conclude by discussing their own attempt to develop alternative DRGs, based on such variables as age, marital status, and type of treatment as well as on diagnosis.