Which DRG has the highest weight in this group?

Which DRG has the highest weight in this group?

• A. DRG 65
• B. DRG 66
• C. DRG 67
• D. DRG 68

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a DRG’s weight represents how much resource use and cost a typical case in that DRG requires. These weights are used to adjust payments, so a DRG with a higher weight means that cases in that group are expected to incur more resources and cost more. To identify the highest weight in a set, you compare the resource intensity and cost across the DRGs in that group. The DRG with the greatest average resource use—more procedures, longer stays, higher complexity—will carry the largest weight. That’s the one that drives the highest payment adjustment within the group. Weights are derived from hospital cost data and normalized so they reflect relative cost across DRGs, enabling fairer reimbursement based on the typical resources each DRG requires. So the DRG in this group that shows the most resource-intensive care will have the highest weight, which is why that option is correct.

The main idea here is that a DRG’s weight represents how much resource use and cost a typical case in that DRG requires. These weights are used to adjust payments, so a DRG with a higher weight means that cases in that group are expected to incur more resources and cost more.

To identify the highest weight in a set, you compare the resource intensity and cost across the DRGs in that group. The DRG with the greatest average resource use—more procedures, longer stays, higher complexity—will carry the largest weight. That’s the one that drives the highest payment adjustment within the group.

Weights are derived from hospital cost data and normalized so they reflect relative cost across DRGs, enabling fairer reimbursement based on the typical resources each DRG requires. So the DRG in this group that shows the most resource-intensive care will have the highest weight, which is why that option is correct.