Abstract:Objective To analyze the impact of diagnosis related groups (DRGs) policies on the hospitalization costs of patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and to provide reference for promoting the implementation of DRGs payment. Methods The hospitalization cost data of patients receiving ERCP in Nanjing Gulou Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were collected. A total of 617 patients were included, including 310 patients in the project-based payment group from January 2021 to December 2021 and 307 patients in the DRGs payment group from January 2022 to December 2022. A cross-sectional study was used to compare and analyze the hospitalization costs and influencing factors of ERCP patients under different payment methods. Results The average hospitalization costs of patients in the DRGs payment group were lower than those in the item-based payment group, and the difference was statistically significant (18 640.1 yuan vs 24 528.7 yuan, P＜0.05). In the DRGs payment, the costs of healthcare materials, medications, surgery, laboratory tests, bed fees, and nursing were lower than those in the item-based payment group, while the costs of examinations and consultations were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that healthcare materials, medication costs, examination costs, surgery costs, length of hospital stay, DRGs grouping, and complications were independent influencing factors for hospitalization costs in the DRGs payment (P＜0.05). Conclusion The implementation of DRGs can help reduce hospitalization costs for ERCP patients and alleviate their financial burden through measures such as strengthening clinical pathway management and documentation in hospital management.