Ambulatory Patient Groups (APGs) were introduced in 1990. The original APGs were developed by 3M Health Information Systems based on a research contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)‚ which was then called the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA). APGs have been used as a classification system and as the basis for prospective payment since 1994. They have been and are still used by state agencies and 3rd party payers for reimbursing hospitals for outpatient care.

In 2007‚ 3M made significant changes to the APG system‚ creating the 3M Enhanced APGs. There have been major changes to the APG system to bring them current with the current state of clinical practice and with coding and billing practices‚ and to describe a broader‚ non-Medicare population. This proprietary system has been incorporated in 3M products‚ which are now available. Several payers and state agencies are now moving forward to convert to or begin using the Enhanced APGs for use within a prospective reimbursement claim payment system.

3M Enhanced APG System (EAPG) (PDF 403 KB)

EAPG Consulting Services (PDF 237 KB)

For more information, call 800.367.2447 or click here.