Patients with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS) are often referred to Burn Centers for wound and intensive care management. Unless they undergo a surgical procedure, patients with this diagnosis are assigned to DRG 272 to determine hospital reimbursement. In 2002, this DRG had an average length of stay of 5.2 days and an average national reimbursement by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services of $4,416. The purpose of this study was to compare demographics, resource utilization, and hospital charges and reimbursement for all patients admitted to participating burn centers between 1998 and 2002 that were assigned to this DRG; and to evaluate the effect of surface area involvement on the dependent variables.

Results: Patients in DRG 272 with TENS have significantly greater resource utilization and hospital charges than NON-TENS patients assigned to this DRG. Patients with TENS involving >= 20% TBSA have significantly greater resource consumption and hospital charges than do TENS patients with smaller surface area involvement.