American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

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MS diagnostic-related groups are organized into which of the following?

  1. Case-mix classifications

  2. Geographic practice cost indices

  3. Major diagnostic categories

  4. Resource-based relative values

The correct answer is: Major diagnostic categories

Major diagnostic categories are the correct organization for MS (Medicare Severity) diagnostic-related groups (DRGs). These categories serve as a classification system that groups similar types of inpatient cases based on the diagnoses and procedures, which can aid in understanding resource utilization, cost, and reimbursement rates. Essentially, each major diagnostic category encompasses a range of DRGs that share common clinical characteristics or treatment needs, which further supports the categorization of patients and ensures a structured approach to healthcare payment systems. The other options, while related to healthcare data and reimbursement, do not specifically categorize MS DRGs. Case-mix classifications refer to systems used to classify patients based on the variety of health conditions they present. Geographic practice cost indices are used to adjust payments for provider costs based on regional variances, and resource-based relative values are involved in determining the value of specific medical services based on the resources needed to provide them. However, none of these directly define the organization for MS diagnostic-related groups as the major diagnostic categories do.