AR-DRG Version 11.0
Date published: 16 March 2023
The Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRGs) is a classification that provides a clinically meaningful way to relate or group the number and type of patients treated in admitted acute episodes of care to the resources required in treatment. AR-DRGs group patients with similar diagnoses requiring similar hospital services.
AR-DRG Version 11.0 was approved by the Pricing Authority in February 2022 and has been developed in accordance with the Governance Framework for the Development of the Admitted Care Classifications. This included consultation with clinicians and other health sector stakeholders represented on IHACPA’s technical and advisory committees.
The Definitions Manual for AR-DRG Version 11.0 is published as a set of three volumes which contain the following products:
- Volume 1: DRGs A13A–I80Z
- Volume 2: DRGs J01A–Z66Z
- Volume 3: Appendices
The AR-DRG Version 11.0 Definitions Manual is available to purchase from the Lane Print website. AR-DRG Version 11.0 superseded AR-DRG Version 10.0 and has been used to price admitted acute episodes of care since 1 July 2023.
Additional resources related to Version 11.0 include:
- Final Report – outlines the changes made for AR-DRG Version 11.0 and details the refinement process and rationale for changes.
- Technical Specifications – details the methodology and technical specifications used in the development of AR-DRG Version 11.0, including:
- data preparation and modification
- Adjacent Diagnosis Related Group (ADRG) intervention hierarchy review
- derivation of the Episode Clinical Complexity Score (ECCS)
- ADRG splitting review.
- Descriptions – provides a full listing of long and short descriptions for Major Diagnostic Categories, Adjacent Diagnosis Related Groups and Diagnosis Related Groups.
- Definitions Manual Appendices – electronic versions of the AR-DRG Version 11.0 Definitions Manual Volume 3: Appendices:
- Appendix A: Diagnosis Code/MDC/ADRG Index
- Appendix B: Intervention Code/MDC/ADRG Index
- Appendix C: Diagnosis Complexity Level Exclusions
- Appendix D: Age and Sex Conflicts
- Appendix E: General Interventions.
- Errata – lists corrections to the printed AR-DRG Definitions Manual.
- Fact sheet – provides an overview of AR-DRGs and Version 11.0 development.
Please note that the purchase and use of these products are subject to licence arrangements.
Education on AR-DRGs is available on IHACPA Learn.
AR-DRG Fundamentals
Revised in 2025, this module provides an overview of AR-DRGs including:
- classification structure
- logic flow
- the complexity model
- DRG assignment.
AR-DRG V11.0 Refinements
Two modules that outline the changes for AR-DRG V11.0.
Modules are self-paced and include knowledge checks. Users can track their learning progress and download a certificate of completion.
New users must register to access IHACPA Learn.
A list of commonly asked questions is available in the Help menu on IHACPA Learn.
Resources
Previous versions:
- AR-DRG Version 10.0
- AR-DRG Version 9.0
- AR-DRG Version 8.0
- AR-DRG Version 7.0
- AR-DRG Version 6.x
- Cessation of support for old AR-DRG versions
Last updated: 2 September 2025