Casemix groupings for psychiatry: Strengths and weaknesses of ' V ersion 2.0 Healthcare Resource Groups' HRGs

Abstract

Healthcare Resource Groups HRGs are English casemix groupings, designed to provide a common language to enable clinicians and managers to analyse the mix of cases they are dealing with, by breaking down their total caseload into a number of categories which can be used for contracting, organising and auditing services. Some background to the work of defining HRGs for psychiatry was given in Anthony, Elphick & Lelliott 1993. The first phase of the work referred to there has been completed, so that when Version 2 HRGs 1994 were published, a psychiatry chapter was included for the first time. The National Casemix Office NCMO has consulted the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and a brief introduction specific to the chapter was published alongside the HRG groupings themselves, to provide some guidance as to their appropriate use. This present article, by the originators, aims to provide a wider discussion for clinicians who may find themselves involved and expected to use a casemix approach to service or business plans. It must be emphasised immediately that we regard Version 2 HRGs as a prototype only.