Markus Krohn,

University of Greifswald,

Greifswald, Germany,

markus.krohn@unigreifswald.de

INPATIENT DIALYSIS IN GERMANY – FINANCING AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

Sylvia Stracke,

University of Greifswald,

Greifswald, Germany,

E-mail: sylvia.stracke@unigreifswald.de

Steffen Flessa,

University of Greifswald,

Greifswald, Germany,

E-mail: steffen.flessa@unigreifswald.de

Abstract. This paper shows the financing situation of inpatient dialysis in the German healthcare system from the providers’ perspective. Due to two predominant financing options – Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) and additional charges – decision makers need knowledge on the revenue per treatment as well as arising economic challenges. The analysis explains the financing options, compares the revenue per treatment of both options and explains advantages, disadvantages and risks of each option. The results show that the revenues per treatments in case of DRGs including dialysis are in average higher than the revenues generated through additional charges. However, the discussion analyzes the risks and uncertainties which clearly indicate that more than only the average revenue based on the DRG-Report-Browser data has to be regarded.

Received: December, 2015

1st Revision: March, 2016

Accepted: June, 2016

DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2016/9-3/5

JEL Classification: M00, I11, I19, G20

Keywords: inpatient dialysis, diagnosis related groups, additional  charges, health care management, Germany.