Backward Compatibility in ICD10 Versions

QUESTION:

Hello, we have used your grouper for several years now, but v35 is the first one that hasn't seemed to be backward compatible to old masks. It groups fine under 35, but if we try to use the 34 mask with the cdrgv35a binary it doesn't return anything. Is this a known issue or something others have dealt with?

ANSWER:

Alas, this is a feature: starting with v32 (our first ICD10-based production release), we gave up backward compatibility for the logic component.

(Note that versions which begin with 'f' are ICD9-based while those that begin with 'v' are ICD10-based. Those that begin with 'x' are experimental.)

The CMS release process changed dramatically, so our release process had to change dramatically as well. In order to assign v34 DRGs you will need the v34 DLL.