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OASIS Alert

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT:
Decrease Acute Hospitalizations Using A Tested Process
Take control with SBAR. You can't change a physician's communication style, but you can in... Read more
EDUCATION:
It's The Infusion That's Important
True or False:  When another pro-vider is giving a patient infusion therapy at home, ... Read more
COMPLIANCE:
Intermediary--Document Medical Necessity Or Forfeit Payment
Edits focus on "money M00s" M0230 and M0825. Watch for medical necessity when caring for p... Read more
ASSESSMENT:
3 Simple Ways To Improve OASIS Accuracy
When assessing, try replacing 'tell me' with 'show me.' If  your agency continue... Read more
REIMBURSEMENT:
Next Step In P4P Begins With OASIS Data
New year also brings CMS demo project. Pay for performance is coming and home health agenc... Read more
DIAGNOSIS CODING:
If You've Decided To Use A Designated Coder, Think Broadly
Check out your options before you start searching. Is it better to hire new coders from ou... Read more
BENCHMARKING:
Use Case Mix Weight To Track Down OASIS Errors
Don't waste resources on re-training all your clinicians. You can find potential ways to i... Read more
OASIS NEWS:
Prepare Now For Your Intermediary's New Year's Gift
M0175 recoupment bills arrive soon. You won't have a moment to spare if you want to contes... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Initial Assessment Really Must Come First
Joint RN/PT episodes require early coordination. Question: In the November issue of OASIS ... Read more
OASIS Update ~ It's Time To Print Out A New Version Of Chapter 8
Errors and omissions no longer complicate the picture. You might find it easier to think o... Read more
EDUCATION ~ Does This Situation Follow The OASIS Rules?
Test Your OASIS Savvy ...Scenario: On Monday your agency received an RN/PT referral. The n... Read more
REIMBURSEMENT ~ M0175 Recoupment Process Set To Begin -- Again
One-year delay is about to end. Agencies are facing a per-episode recoupment of $200 to $6... Read more
COMPLIANCE ~ Beware Ongoing Denials For Lowest HIPPS Code
OASIS items can support homebound status. One year later and denial rates for HAEJ1 claims... Read more
THERAPY ~ Follow These 4 Steps To More Effective Plans Of Care
Clinicians often forget to ask one key question. If your therapists are making clinical de... Read more
ASSESSMENT ~ Avoid These Common OASIS Assessment Errors
Sticking with old OASIS habits might be a bad idea. When you answer OASIS questions wrong,... Read more
DIAGNOSIS CODING ~ Take 'Excludes' Notes Seriously To Avoid Payment Delays
Don't just skim over those little black boxes when you're looking up codes. Using codes in... Read more
WOUND CARE ~ Don't Let Needless Denials Eat Up The Money You Earned
Support your claims with better wound documentation. Poor outcomes in wound healing can le... Read more
OASIS News ~ New Web Site Addresses Quality Improvement
CMS encourages HHAs to reach for the STAR. Agencies struggling to get their quality improv... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Can Multiple Biopsies Change A Stasis Ulcer?
Question: When answering OASIS item M0468 (Does this patient have a stasis ulcer) and othe... Read more
Reimbursement:
Here's Your Last Chance To Fix These Erroneous Claims
Stop sending the feds a financial gift they don't deserve. Begin work now and end the year... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
Are You Filing Unnecessary SCIC Claims?
Filing a significant change in condition when you don't have to costs you money, experts s... Read more
Risk Management:
Stay On High Alert For Signs Of Dementia
Detect hidden cognitive problems to improve outcomes and avoid adverse events. If your pat... Read more
Assessment:
Improve Outcomes By Evaluating Confused Patients
Begin your dementia screening with OASIS. Don't be too quick to assume a patient is being ... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Four Home Health Compare Measures Creep Upward
Acute care hospitalization stays stuck for three years now. Don't fall behind the rising n... Read more
Compliance:
Be On Guard For OIG Hot Spots
Therapy issues are still under the microscope. If reimbursement and outcomes don't have yo... Read more
Education:
How Does A Disease Exacerbation Fit Into M0200?
Look to the results of the intensification. True or False: The increased severity of a dis... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Support Your OASIS Answers With New Pain Codes
But watch for inconsistencies. Use new ICD-9 pain codes to help you show how pain impacts ... Read more
OASIS News:
Providers Await M0175 Updates
With millions of dollars at stake, providers want proposed M0175 recoupments to disappear,... Read more
Assessment:
RETRAIN CLINICIANS ON NEW WOUND GUIDANCE--HERE'S HOW
Up to $900 per episode may depend on it.Clinicians who rely on feeling a healing ridge whe... Read more
OASIS Update:
DON'T LET UNINTENDED OASIS CHANGES TRIP YOU UP
Major changes to Chapter 8 create confusion.It's time to go back to school to ensure OASIS... Read more
OASIS M0 Clarifications:
START TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE LATEST OASIS CLARIFICATIONS
Use this list to help you focus on updated items.... Read more
Pressure Ulcers:
HERE'S THE ANSWER TO THE PRESSURE ULCER RIDDLE
Now code the ulcer correctly.When is a pressure ulcer no longer a pressure ulcer? When it ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT DIABETES CODE EVERY TIME
Fourth digit identifies presence and type of manifestation.When coding for diabetes, the f... Read more
Diabetic Ulcers:
USE THIS PLAN OF ATTACK FOR DIABETIC ULCER ASSESSMENT
Identify and address these hard-to-heal wounds.If you don't know what kind of ulcer you're... Read more
OASIS News:
RAP PAYMENT WORKAROUND AFFECTS SOME PROVIDERS
Intermediaries may not be paying, but you should keep filing.Home health agencies paid thr... Read more
Education:
COUNTING OASIS DAYS MAY BE CONFUSING
First ask why you're counting.Question: When counting days for OASIS required time points,... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
SHOW YOUR CLINICIANS HOW OASIS ACCURACY AFFECTS INCOME
Use this chart as you teach the importance of learning Chapter 8 revisions.... Read more
Assessment:
ARTERIAL ULCER CONFUSION CAN COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
OASIS only give points for two types of ulcers.Wound care adds to your agency's episode co... Read more
Compliance:
SINGLE NURSING VISIT WAVES RED FLAG AT RHHI
Medical necessity challenged in most denials.When your regional home health intermediary d... Read more
Survey & Certification:
PREVENT FALLS BY ADDRESSING THESE 4 FALLS RISK FACTORS
Make these issues part of your OASIS assessment.Reducing the number of falls your patients... Read more
Reimbursement:
USE RAPs TO OFFSET MANDATED PAYMENT HOLDS
Success depends on understanding new OASIS requirements.To help keep your agency's cash fl... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
CONSULT TABULAR AND ALPHABETIC INDEX TO PREVENT PAYMENT DENIALS
Only the tabular list can tell you what's included and excluded.When you code directly fro... Read more
Documentation:
3 WAYS TO IMPROVE THERAPY DOCUMENTATION
Don't throw away thousands of dollars--show how you earned them.If you want to keep the $2... Read more
Education:
M0500--DOES C-PAP INCLUDE BI-PAP?
Question: How would you answer M0500 (Respiratory treatments used at home) if the patient ... Read more
OASIS News:
NEW INITIATIVE WILL ADDRESS HOSPITALIZATION RATE
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to announce a new collaborative eff... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
SOME DISEASE CODES ALSO CAN BE MANIFESTATION CODES
Question: I know manifestation codes can't be used in M0230 as the primary diagnosis. And ... Read more
Reimbursement:
4 Options Clear Up RAP Billing
Start by considering your current billing software. Now that the seven-day lock requiremen... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Home Health ABN Clarification Creates A New Deadline
Add one more version of the form to your visit packet. Home health agencies can't provide ... Read more
Compliance:
Cut Down On COPD Denials With This Advice
Document medical necessity or don't make the visit. If your clinicians are routinely visit... Read more
News Flash
News Flash: A new Cahaba widespread review, announced June 22, targets claims with a diagn... Read more
Assessment:
Decrease Non-healing Wounds -- And Related Adverse Events
Use these expert tips for getting wound healing back on track. When your agency exper... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Key Strategies To Engage Your Therapists' Focus On Quality
Are you using your therapists to create positive outcomes? Optimize each therapist's best ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Gear Up Now For New Pain Codes
 Use pain codes in M0240 to paint a clearer picture of a patient's needs. With new IC... Read more
Education:
Eliminate Missing OASIS Assessments
Question: Choose the true statement(s) below. A) When a patient switches to a Medicar... Read more
OASIS News:
MedPAC Pushes For New Quality Measures
If MedPAC has its way, you'll be adding process measures to your quality improvement effor... Read more
Reader Question:
Errors On M0488 Can Cost You $200 To $600 Per Episode
 Don't guess on this answer. Question: When a patient has an access device such as a ... Read more
Reimbursement:
FOIL THERAPY EDITS WITH YOUR SECRET WEAPON--DOCUMENTATION
Why were two-thirds of these claims paid?You could be handing the $2,000 per episode you e... Read more
Therapy:
5 TIPS FOR IMPROVING DOCUMENTATION
Protect yourself as the feds turn up the heat on high-therapy use.When M0825 shows the pat... Read more
Quality Improvement:
KEEP M0520 ERRORS FROM DAMAGING YOUR REPUTATION
Being too embarrassed to ask costs $200.If a high percentage of your patients don't score ... Read more
OASIS Basics:
UNDERSTAND INCONTINENCE BEFORE YOU ASSESS IT
Incontinence is a frequent issue in the home setting, but the types and causes vary widely... Read more
Assessment:
BOOST YOUR BOTTOM LINE WITH THE RIGHT INCONTINENCE QUESTIONS
The terms you use are crucial to success.Many patients are too embarrassed to admit incont... Read more
Case Study:
HOW TO GET YOUR PATIENTS TO CALL YOU FIRST
Education, handouts and your staff's attitude are key.Finding out how your staff really fe... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
DON'T CONFUSE SEVERE BRAIN INJURY WITH CVA
Tip:  Look for the condition behind the symptoms.Hemiplegia and aphasia can result fr... Read more
Survey & Certification:
DON'T GET BURNED BY NEW HOME HEALTH ABNs
Feds postpone June 1 start date.Agencies now have a few extra months to decipher ABNs. Opp... Read more
Education:
One Visit Or Two? The Wrong Answer May Cost You An Episode Payment
Question: When you make a skilled nursing visit to start an IV and then return three hours... Read more
OASIS News:
CATCH 22 SURFACES FROM NEW OASIS DATA TRANSMISSION RULES
With new reg agencies must choose between money and quality.After June 21, you may not hav... Read more
Reader Question:
YOU MAY HAVE ALWAYS USED '0' -- BUT IS IT RIGHT?
Agencies have stuck with old CMS system.Question: Are we allowed to use "0" as a frequency... Read more
Quality Improvement:
SOAR TO OUTCOME SUCCESS WITH TEAMWORK
If you're involving the patient only after a crisis occurs, you are playing without your q... Read more
Outcomes:
5-STEP PLAN REDUCES YOUR ACUTE CARE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND IMPROVES TEAMWORK
Don't keep OASIS a secret.Improve outcomes by recruiting the patient and family as part of... Read more
Compliance:
PREVENT FUTURE M0175 MISTAKES TO HEAD OFF MEDICAL REVIEW
Accuracy is worth $200 to $600 per episode.If you're not using all the information post-ac... Read more
M0175:
POWER UP FOR MORE M0175 CHALLENGES
Recoupments for first PPS year may start soon.More money could be flowing out of agencies'... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
LOOK FOR THESE CRITERIA BEFORE REPORTING OBESITY CODES
Obesity is a risk factor often captured in M0290, so you need to learn how to code it accu... Read more
Assessment:
BOOST YOUR WOUND ASSESSMENT ACCURACY
Can you ace these 3 scenarios?Just because your diagnosis codes in M0230 or M0240 include ... Read more
Reimbursement:
SCRUTINIZE CAUSES TO STEM YOUR LUPA LOSSES
Many LUPAs are avoidable.The higher your percentage of low utilization payment adjustment ... Read more
Education:
HERE'S HOW TO NAVIGATE THE DISCHARGE DATE DILEMMA
Question: The patient is admitted to home care and is transferred to the hospital during t... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
PREPARE FOR MAJOR PPS CHANGES
Therapy game players beware.Everyone knows the M0825 high therapy payment structure is not... Read more
OASIS News:
SAY GOODBYE TO SEVEN-DAY LOCK RULE
Look for the top submission error to change.Don't jump the gun on the final OASIS regulati... Read more
Reimbursement:
Stay On Top Of P4P By Focusing On Key OASIS Issues
ReimbursementStay On Top Of P4P By Focusing On Key OASIS IssuesYou won't have to wait long... Read more
Quality Improvement:
10 Essential Steps Guide You To P4P SuccessP4P Success
Do you know the name of your QIO contact?  Get ready for pay for performance wit... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
Emergency Care Plan Alerts Your Patients To Call You First
To decrease unplanned hospitalizations, personalize this form and post it next to your pat... Read more
Assessment:
Don't Make This Common M0570 Mistake
Recent past may be further back than you think Just because M0570 doesn't affect the episo... Read more
Survey & Certification:
Know When New ABN Rules Interact With OASIS
Single skilled nursing visits may be more than a financial drain. If you haven't digested... Read more
Advance Beneficiary Notices:
Tackle Home Health ABNs With These Practical Pointers
Be sure you know the three trigger points for issuing ABNs. Add those ABN forms--and these... Read more
Education:
Must You Deny Needed Therapy?
Patient care and Medicare payment can depend on understanding the term "qualifying." True ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Be On The Lookout For More Long-Term Drug Use Codes
One OASIS item that changes once or twice a year is the selection of available ICD-9 codes... Read more
OASIS News:
Home Health Compare Improvements Slow To A Crawl
"Consumer-friendly" text announced. The Medicare home health industry is finding it harder... Read more
Reader Question:
Brush Up On Diagnosis Coding Choices
In some ways, coding may be simpler than you think. Question: When we are choosing diagnos... Read more
Benchmarking:
Identify Profitability Barriers Using Your OASIS Data Using Your OASIS Data
Slight increase in case mix equals dramatic increase in revenue.You may prefer caring for ... Read more
Test Your OASIS Savvy ...
True or False: The date in OASIS item M090(Discharge/Transfer/Death Date) does not have to... Read more
Reimbursement:
Understand Payment Adjustments To Improve Case Mix Weight
Unnecessary SCICs can cost you thousands of dollars. You wouldn't want to do your job and ... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Ready Or Not -- Here Come Your QIOs
Briggs study shows how other HHAs succeed. With the big push to improve acute care hospita... Read more
Compliance:
OIG Study Fails To Show Predicted Quality Drop
OASIS results don't mesh with claims data. Home care veterans weren't surprised by a new s... Read more
OASIS News:
Home Health Compare Results Creep Upward
Unplanned hospitalizations remain stubbornly stuck.In the December 2005 update to Home Hea... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Avoid Coding Errors with New V Code Guidance
M0240 requires a new approach.  If you're confused about correctly using the new ICD-... Read more
Reader Question:
Daily Insulin May Be Covered
Evaluate legal risk, too. Question: Many OASIS outcomes can be influenced by whether or no... Read more
Regulations:
Final OASIS Reg May Save Your Sanity
Temporary data-collection suspensions for certain patients still apply. If you've been str... Read more
Survey & Certification:
4 Ways To Prepare For Lock-Free Data Transmission
You might want to keep this a secret from your clinicians. Now that you won't have to lock... Read more
Test Your OASIS Savvy ...Education:
Cane May Not Relieve Pain
Question: How do you answer M0420 (Frequency of pain interfering with patient's activity o... Read more
OBQI:
OBQI Training Just Got Easier
Entice staff with CEUs. You don't have to convince your staff to slog through page after p... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Use New V Code Rule To Trigger More Accurate V57.1 Coding
Improve risk-adjustment in the bargain. Diagnosis code V57.1 (Other physical therapy)--the... Read more
Reimbursement:
Believing Your RHHI's Answers May Cost You
If you're following the original version of regional home health intermediary Associated H... Read more
Case Study:
5 Costly OASIS Problems And How To Address Them
Clinicians can change your agency's future. Do your clinicians know what a LUPA, a SCIC or... Read more
Clip'N' Save:
Audit your ACUTE CARE HOSPITALIZATION CHARTS WITH THIS TOOL
Jumpstart your work on this hard-to-change measure. Quality Improvement Organizations are ... Read more
OASIS News:
Study Explains M0 Mistakes
With pay for performance on the horizon, a new study highlights problems with OASIS validi... Read more
Reader Question:
CMS Web Site Redesign Stumps Providers
Question: Many times lately when I try to go to an OASIS link on the Centers for Medicare ... Read more
OBQI:
REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS WITHOUT HURTING YOUR BOTTOM LINE
Failing to reduce hospitalizations could cost you.There's a huge gap in acute care hospita... Read more
Quality Improvement:
27 WAYS TO REDUCE ACUTE CARE HOSPITALIZATIONS
Including 5 that don't cost money.The most commonly used approach to preventing unplanned ... Read more
Risk Adjustment:
PROPERLY PORTRAY YOUR PATIENTS FOR ACCURATE RISK ADJUSTMENT
4 tips ensure that your outcomes show the good care you give.When you're having trouble ge... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
9 STEPS HELP SPEED UP YOUR CODING SEARCHES
If you're tired of locating a term in the alphabetic index of your ICD-9 coding manual onl... Read more
Assessment:
M0670 CONFUSION CAN COST YOU HUNDREDS PER EPISODE
6 recent Q&As clarify bathing issues.Don't be misled by the fact that M0670 answer 2(b... Read more
Educations:
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS A RECENT ASSESSMENT
Question: If an agency misses the recert window of Day 56 to 60, which action should it ta... Read more
OASIS News:
LOOK OUT FOR OASIS ENFORCEMENT
Problems with coding, OASIS assessments, and documentation created major problems for one ... Read more
Reader Quesitons:
RHHI WILL FIX ONLY ONE ERROR
Question: I audit and code all OASIS assessments at a home health agency. I was informed t... Read more
Available Years:  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002