German International Classification of Disease (ICD)-10 delayed till 1998:

Full implementation of the German disease coding system for reimbursement will be delayed until January 1998 (see Clinica No 688, p 3). Both inpatient and outpatient procedures will have to conform to the coding, ICD-10, at the same time. This will avoid the problem of conflicting codings between in- and outpatient care, since hospitals may use ICD-9 only until the end of 1997. It is expected that ICD-10 will undergo revisions before its implementation including provisions for data confidentiality. A working group will prepare a review of the practical implications by the end of 1996. A pilot study will be undertaken in the first half of 1997.