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Under MS-DRG V44.0, a hip or knee revision coded as removal and replacement groups to DRGs 463-465, not new DRG 449. Tested across every version from V40.0 to V44.0.

National case mix is flat under MS-DRG V44.0, but relative weight moved from medical to surgical DRGs. Medical-heavy hospitals lose CMI with no change in patients.

MS-DRG V44.0 took effect October 1, 2026: 18 DRGs retired, 14 created, and relative weights changed on 751 of 752 carried-over DRGs. What moved and why.

CMS is adding 80 new ICD-10-PCS procedure codes effective April 1, 2026 in MS-DRG V43.1. Learn which codes drive DRG assignment changes, which are OR vs non-OR, and how to prepare your CDM, coding, and CDI teams for revenue impact.

Learn how Present on Admission (POA) indicators fundamentally alter MS-DRG groupings by determining whether specific complications can be used to justify higher reimbursement. Understand the financial impact of hospital-acquired conditions.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updates to the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) classification system for Fiscal Year 2026. Learn about deleted, new, and revised MS-DRG codes.