MS-DRG 552 — Medical Back Problems without MCC
MDC 08 · Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue · Medical DRG · FY2026
| FY2026 relative weight | 0.9613 |
|---|---|
| Geometric mean LOS | 2.9 days |
| Arithmetic mean LOS | 3.6 days |
| Severity tier | without MCC |
| Post-acute transfer policy | Yes — per-diem reduction applies to qualifying transfers |
| Special payment provision | No |
Severity family — documentation moves the weight 1.74×
The same base condition splits by coded severity (CC/MCC). Weight deltas here are exactly what one documented comorbidity is worth:
| DRG | Title | FY2026 weight | GMLOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 551 | Medical Back Problems with MCC | 1.6761 | 4.5 |
| 552 | Medical Back Problems without MCC | 0.9613 | 2.9 |
Figures come from the official FY2026 IPPS tables and are payment inputs, not adjudicated amounts. DRG Calculator prices full claims — hospital-specific operating, capital, IME, DSH, uncompensated care and outlier math — and verifies results against the official pricer.