Step inside the DRG Chamber and discover the forces that truly drive inpatient reimbursement. This session pulls back the curtain on DRG assignment — revealing how diagnoses, procedures, CC/MCC capture, and documentation specificity interact to shape the final payment outcome. We’ll expose the hidden influencers coders often overlook, including discharge disposition, quality indicators, hospital acquired conditions, and hospital level factors that can dramatically shift a DRG. With payer audits rising and documentation scrutiny at an all time high, understanding DRG mechanics isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Attendees will go far beyond the familiar “principal diagnosis + procedure” formula and explore the full clinical, coding, and regulatory ecosystem that determines DRG grouping. You’ll learn how small details can trigger major reimbursement changes, how quality linked measures affect financial outcomes, and how coders can strengthen accuracy and compliance in a rapidly evolving environment. By the end of this session, coders will walk away with a deeper, clearer understanding of DRG logic and practical strategies they can immediately apply to improve documentation integrity, reduce denials, and support organizational financial health.