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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and ThroatDRG 149-dysequilibrium
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    Dysequilibrium: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    DRG 149 addresses inpatient stays for dysequilibrium, encompassing balance disorders and gait instability that require acute evaluation and management. It matters for inpatient reimbursement because assignment to this Diagnosis-Related Group defines the bundled Medicare payment based on expected resource use for diagnosis, observation, and short-term treatment.

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    DRG 149 Overview

    DRG 149 covers inpatient stays primarily for dysequilibrium, a clinical syndrome of impaired balance that can lead to falls, syncope-like episodes, or gait instability requiring evaluation and management. This Diagnosis-Related Group matters for Medicare payment because it groups patients with similar resource needs for acute diagnostic workup, observation, and potential physical therapy evaluation into a single payment category. Accurate clinical documentation and coding determine assignment to this DRG and thus influence hospital reimbursement and quality reporting. The grouping reflects typical resource use for short inpatient stays focused on assessment, stabilization, and discharge planning.

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    National Payment Rates

    Across commercial payers the observed rate range spans from about $370 to $26K, with mean payer payments clustering between roughly $7K and $12K. The widest spread appears between BCBS (min ~$370, max $20K) and Anthem (min ~$390, max $26K), indicating substantial variability across contracts. See the table and chart below for payer-specific quartiles and ranges.

    The CMS 2023 data represent national Medicare fee-for-service inpatient payments reported under the CMS Provider Utilization and Payment Data program. The table below shows average total payment ($7.2k), average submitted covered charges ($41.3k), average Medicare payment ($5.2k), and total discharges (13.9k).

    Average Total PaymentAverage Submitted ChargesAverage Medicare PaymentTotal Discharges
    $7.2K$41K$5.2K14K

    Patient Population

    This DRG’s patient population skews toward Medicare-age beneficiaries, reflecting a higher representation of older adults than working-age commercial populations. Commercial/ private payers (e.g., employer-sponsored) capture a smaller, working-age segment, so the overall mix is Medicare-heavy rather than primarily working-age or evenly mixed. Age distribution therefore leans toward Medicare-age demographics.

    State Payment Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 49

    Alaska Benchmarks

    Alaska’s DRG 149 reimbursement cluster spans roughly $12K to $18K across reported payers, with Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield both fixed near $12K and Cigna notably higher around $18K. The most notable deviation from national averages is Cigna’s elevated median in Alaska relative to several national payer medians. See the table and chart below for detailed percentile values.

    Key Insights for Alaska

    • Highest payer: Cigna (~$18K median) is the top-paying insurer in Alaska; Lowest payers: Anthem and BCBS are both flat at ~$12K across percentiles.
    • Alaska’s payers show a narrow clustered range for Anthem and BCBS at ~$12K, while Cigna is meaningfully higher than those local benchmarks and above typical national medians for some payers.

    Clinical Trials

    • Acute vestibular rehabilitation and early in-hospital balance intervention trials: randomized or controlled pilot studies evaluating structured, early vestibular physiotherapy or multisensory balance training initiated during the inpatient stay for patients admitted with acute dysequilibrium (often older adults with falls, new-onset vertigo, or vestibular hypofunction). These studies target short-term outcomes such as in-hospital fall rates, length of stay, and improvement on objective balance measures (e.g., gait speed, Timed Up and Go), and are relevant because effective in-hospital interventions may reduce complications and downstream costs for high-risk patients. Payers and providers benefit from evidence about which acute therapies shorten LOS or reduce readmissions and fall-related costs.
    • Comparative diagnostic strategy and etiology-focused effectiveness studies: prospective cohort or pragmatic trials comparing diagnostic pathways (for example, enhanced vestibular testing and multidisciplinary evaluation versus standard care) to identify causes of dysequilibrium in heterogeneous inpatient populations including stroke, orthostatic hypotension, peripheral vestibular disorders, and medication-induced imbalance. These studies examine diagnostic yield, time to definitive diagnosis, treatment targeting, and resource utilization, addressing the clinical question of how best to triage and manage complex causes of imbalance in medically ill patients. Results inform providers about efficient workups and help payers assess the value of advanced diagnostics in reducing unnecessary imaging, consultations, or prolonged admissions.
    • Post-discharge outcomes and transitional care interventions: longitudinal trials and cohort studies of discharge planning, home-based balance rehabilitation, tele-rehabilitation, or fall prevention programs for patients hospitalized with dysequilibrium, typically older adults with comorbidities and functional impairment. Research focuses on 30- to 90-day outcomes such as falls, emergency visits, rehospitalization, functional status, and durable improvements in mobility, providing evidence about which transitional care models lower downstream morbidity and costs. This area is crucial to payers and health systems because preventing post-discharge falls and readmissions directly impacts total cost of care and quality metrics for this DRG.

    Related Codes

    135-SINUS-AND-MASTOID-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC-MCC

    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    136-SINUS-AND-MASTOID-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    137-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    138-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    139-SALIVARY-GLAND-PROCEDURES

    Salivary Gland Procedures: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    140-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    141-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    142-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    143-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    144-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    Mean Rates by Payer — National — DRG 149
    Mean Rates by Payer — Alaska — DRG 149