Who assigns the final DRG?

• A. Normally the coder
• B. Physician
• C. Nurse
• D. Billing specialist

Answer: (A)

DRG assignment is the process of classifying an inpatient stay for payment based on the diagnoses and procedures documented in the medical record. The coder takes the physician’s documented information, translates it into standardized ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, and then uses the DRG grouper to determine the final DRG. This is why the coder is the one who normally assigns the final DRG—their specialized coding and grouping work translates clinical documentation into the payment category. Physicians provide the documentation, but they don’t assign the DRG, and nurses or billing specialists don’t perform this classification. Accurate documentation supports the coder in selecting the correct codes and, in turn, the correct DRG.