CPB Certified Professional Biller Certification Practice Exam

How many subclasses does the ARP-DRG system add to each DRG for severity and risk adjustments?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: Two

The ARP-DRG (All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups) system enhances the traditional DRG structure by incorporating severity of illness and risk of mortality adjustments. This is accomplished by adding two subclasses to each DRG, which allows for a more nuanced categorization of patients based on their health conditions. This additional level of classification helps in more accurately defining the resources used for care, ensuring proper reimbursement rates that reflect the complexity of the patients' cases. Including two subclasses helps to differentiate between patients who may require different levels of care and support based on their specific conditions. With this distinction, healthcare providers can better manage costs while also providing appropriate treatment tailored to the needs of their patients, which is especially critical in environments where payment models are increasingly based on outcomes and efficiency.