Home Health Coding and OASIS Expert

You’re bound to have questions as you prepare to make the transition from OASIS-C to OASIS-C1/ICD-9. Make certain you’re referencing the appropriate resources, depending on which OASIS form you’re completing.

You’ll begin using the OASIS-C1 form for M0090 dates of Jan. 1, 2015 and later, said Pat Sevast, BSN, RN, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Sept. 3 CMS OASIS-C1 implementation webinar.

As of Jan. 1, 2015, you’ll also need to be certain you’re looking to the appropriate documents for guidance about completing the updated OASIS accurately. When working with the OASIS-C1/ICD-9, look to the following, Sevast said:

OASIS-C1 data collection resources

Begin using 01/1/2015

• OASIS-C1/ICD-9 data set: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HomeHealthQualityInits/OASIS-C1.html. 
• OASIS-C1/ICD-9 Guidance Manual (06/14): www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HomeHealthQualityInits/HHQIOASISUserManual.html.
• CMS OASIS Q&As (07/14 and forward): https://www.qtso.com/hhatrain.html.
• CMS OASIS Quarterly Q&As (07/14 and forward): https://www.qtso.com/hhatrain.html.
• WOCN Guidance on OASIS-C1 Integumentary Items: www.wocn.org/?page=OASISC1.
• CMS OASIS Web Modules (Updating to OASIS-C1/ICD-9 will begin after 01/01/15): http://surveyortraining.cms.hhs.gov/pubs/CourseMenu.aspx?cid=0CMSOASISCWBT.

Take note: Even before the transition deadline, it’s important to become familiar with these documents for staff training purposes and for updating any forms, Sevast said.

Aside from preparing for the transition, you should continue to base your OASIS responses on existing OASIS-C guidance. Look to the following resources shared by Sevast for answers to any questions that you have between now and Jan. 1, 2015.

OASIS-C data collection resources

From now until 12/31/2014

• OASIS-C data set: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HomeHealthQualityInits/HHQIOASISDataSet.html.
• OASIS-C Guidance Manual: www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HomeHealthQualityInits/HHQIOASISUserManual.html
• CMS OASIS Q&As (12/12): https://www.qtso.com/hhatrain.html.
• CMS OASIS Quarterly Q&As (01/13-10/14): https://www.qtso.com/hhatrain.html.
• WOCN Guidance on OASIS-C Integumentary Items: www.wocn.org.
• CMS OASIS Web Modules: http://surveyortraining.cms.hhs.gov/pubs/CourseMenu.aspx?cid=0CMSOASISCWBT.

Remember these Data Submission Changes 

The OASIS-C data set is valid until Dec. 31, 2014, but the state submission system will shut down on Dec. 26, 2014 at 6 p.m. ET in order to transition data from the state system to the Assessment Submission and Processing system (ASAP), Sevast reminded. Long-term care providers successfully switched to this system a year ago, and no problems are expected as home health providers make the change, she said.

Data submission will begin again, through ASAP on Jan. 1, 2015 for any OASIS-C assessments not already submitted, as well as OASIS-C1/ICD-9 assessments.

Remember: You must submit assessments within 30 days of the M0090 date, so you’ll need to plan ahead for the ‘dead time’ between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, says Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, HCS-O, consultant and principal of Selman-Holman & Associates and CoDR — Coding Done Right in Denton, Texas. Prepare now to get your OASIS submitted early during that time period so as not to be late, she says. 

Contact your state’s OASIS Automation Coordinator with any questions you might have about transitioning to ASAP, Sevast said. Find contact information here: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/OASIS/downloads/OASISautomationcoordinators.pdf.