Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient Classification Version 5.0

Date published: 17 December 2021

The Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient Classification (AN-SNAP) is a casemix classification used for activity based funding, clinical management and other purposes.

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) developed AN-SNAP Version 5.0 through detailed statistical analysis of public hospital activity and cost data, as well as consultation with jurisdictions, clinical experts and other subacute care stakeholders. 

Overall, AN-SNAP Version 5.0 is a modest refinement of Version 4.0. The fundamental structure is retained with the five care types: palliative care, rehabilitation, psychogeriatric care, geriatric evaluation and management and non-acute care. 

These documents provide background to the development of the classification, and explain the data elements, collection protocols, reporting requirements, and how data is grouped.

The classification manual appendices were updated in June 2022 to incorporate ICD-10-AM Twelfth edition codes for the Frailty Related Index of Comorbidities (FRIC). They were updated again in May 2024 to incorporate paediatric impairment codes and adult impairment codes to classify coronavirus disease 2019 for rehabilitation care.
 

The Classification Manual includes: 

  • definitions of key terms and related concepts 
  • business rules - to ensure the consistent application of AN-SNAP Version 5.0 in potentially ambiguous circumstances
  • practice guidance - to ensure consistent application of the clinical assessment tools and other measures where these are being used as a variable in the classification 
  • information about the classification logic, which underpins the grouping software. 

IHACPA has developed grouping software (referred to as a ‘grouper’) for AN-SNAP Version 5.0, to assist with the assignment of activity to appropriate end classes.

In June 2022, the AN-SNAP Version 5.0 grouper was updated to accept ICD-10-AM Twelfth edition codes and their associated Frailty Related Index of Comorbidities (FRIC) scores. 

The grouper was updated again in May 2024 to incorporate paediatric impairment codes and new adult impairment codes to classify coronavirus disease 2019 for rehabilitation care.
 

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