Interventional radiology and DRGs (diagnosis related groups): Impact on a radiology department

The French health care system reform has introduced some changes in the dis tribution of hospital budgets according to the distribution of admitted pat ients in diagnosis related groups (DRGs). This new model of budget allocati on does not take into account the more technical nature of some medical pro cedures and services and does not promote the implementation of new technol ogies. Using four simulated clinical cases, we studied the length of stay i n different DRGs and the number of associated points (points d'indice synth etique d'activite, ISA). The addition of the interventional radiologic proc edures did not modify the DRG (which remained unchanged from the initial DR G). In order to achieve recognition of the specific nature of interventiona l radiology procedures, a database should be created and an economical eval uation conducted.