MS-DRG v44.0 · MDC 08: Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
524 — Extensive or Complex Spinal Fusion Procedures Except Cervical with CC
- Relative weight
- 9.8365
- Geometric mean LOS
- 5.6 days
- Arithmetic mean LOS
- 6.4 days
- Type
- Surgical
About MS-DRG 524
MS-DRG 524, Extensive or Complex Spinal Fusion Procedures Except Cervical with CC, is a surgical DRG in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue) under MS-DRG version 44.0, which applies to inpatient discharges from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Its FY2027 relative weight is 9.8365, so Medicare's base payment for this DRG is about 9.84 times the average inpatient case, before hospital-specific adjustments. The geometric mean length of stay is 5.6 days and the arithmetic mean is 6.4 days.
It belongs to a 3-level severity family: DRG 523 (with MCC, weight 13.7443), DRG 524 (with CC, weight 9.8365) and DRG 525 (without CC/MCC, weight 7.2982). The highest-severity level carries 1.9 times the weight of the lowest, which is why documenting CC and MCC conditions matters.
It is subject to Medicare's post-acute care transfer policy, so payment can be reduced when a patient with a shorter-than-average stay is discharged to a skilled nursing facility, home health or another post-acute setting.
ICD-10-CM codes that group to DRG 524 (0)
This DRG is assigned by procedure, not by a diagnosis list.
Common questions about DRG 524
What is the relative weight of DRG 524?
- 9.8365 for FY2027 (MS-DRG v44.0), from the IPPS final rule Table 5.
What is the average length of stay for DRG 524?
- The geometric mean length of stay is 5.6 days; the arithmetic mean is 6.4 days.
Is DRG 524 medical or surgical?
- DRG 524 is a surgical DRG.