Norway Releases Preliminary 2027 DRG System with Increased Activity-Based Funding

On 19 October 2026, the Norwegian Directorate of Health published a preliminary version of the 2027 activity-based funding framework (Innsatsstyrt finansiering, ISF).

The overall structure remains largely unchanged. Financing of regional health authorities (Regionale Helseforetak, RHF) continues to combine a basic grant (budget-based funding) with activity-based funding (ISF). However, the funding distribution for somatic specialist care is set to change in 2027:

• Activity-based funding (ISF) share will increase from 30% to 40%;
• Basic grant share will decrease from 70% to 60%.

Activity-based funding uses three key grouping mechanisms:

• Diagnosis-related groups (DRG);
• Special Service Groups (STGs) refer to the grouping of health care in which the patient is followed up by the specialist health service over a long period of time and mainly concerns activities outside the hospital, so that the patient himself is more responsible for the administration of the treatment (e.g., patient-administered peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, remote monitoring);
• Service Progress Groups (TFGs) refer to "bundled payments," so it is an aggregated level above DRG and STG, providing financing of a patient treatment course with several stays and activities (e.g., dialysis treatment, insertion of hip prostheses).

The preliminary 2027 update introduces limited changes to the grouping systems:

• Seven new DRGs are planned, none of which are directly related to MedTech.
• Four new STGs are planned: one covering patient-administered drug therapy and three related to digital patient education.
• No changes to the TFG system are expected.

For 2027, the proposed base rate for somatic specialist care is 57,654 NOK. Tariffs for DRGs, STGs, and TFGs are calculated by multiplying the individual weight points by this base rate.

The publication of the final version is expected in December 2026.

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