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OASIS Alert

CMS Shows Off New OASIS-C Form
Process measures, M0 item revisions will mean big changes for HHAs. Providers are one ... Read more
Training:
Want Accurate Case Mix? Correct These 3 Common Errors
Regular OASIS training could increase your case mix -- and your reimbursement. Accur... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Heads Up: Include These Changes In Your Pressure Ulcer Coding
Important: List only one staging code for ulcers of the same size. Your pressure ulcer co... Read more
Continuing Education:
get The Inside Scoop On Oasis's Big Changes
Register now for these tried-and-true strategies for all HHAs. • "What The N... Read more
PPS Correction Adjustments Are On The Way
But you'll have to do some legwork to get your due reimbursement. If you're waiting on mo... Read more
Education:
Use This Expert Advice To Boost Your Patients' Independence
Your agency's outcomes will benefit, as well. Just because a patient can't get her clothe... Read more
Assessment:
Repeated Case Mix Codes Won't Ruin Your Compliance
Doubling up on codes could lead to increased payment. You don't have to worry about repea... Read more
OASIS News:
Industry Group Urges CMS To Move Forward On ICD-10
Other groups still pushing for a postponed implementation. The American Health Informatio... Read more
Reader Question:
Look For First Billable PT Visit To Spot SOC Date
Here's how to coordinate your nurses' and therapists' assessments. Question: Our clinicia... Read more
OASIS:
New OASIS Tool Has Final Arrival Date
Field testing responses steered the final version of OASIS-C. A whole new OASIS world ... Read more
Assessment:
Use Community Care To Cut Down On Chronic Transfers
Decrease OASIS paperwork and hospitalizations with this advice. Just because your chronic... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Use M0246 To Increase Case Mix Points For Fracture Care
Resolved conditions coding rule doesn't apply to M0246. You know that it's not appropriat... Read more
Continuing Education:
Learn Everything You Need To Know About OaSis-C
Register now for these insider secrets on OASIS-C, PPS refinements, and new the new hosp... Read more
Lawsuits:
Case Mix Creep Adjustment Rule Lands In Court
NAHC wants to send the rule back to the drawing board If you're worried about losing mone... Read more
Education:
Closely Monitor Patients' Movements To Answer M0390
You can answer M0390 even when your patients can't. Scenario: During her assessment, a cl... Read more
Regulations:
PPS Adjustments Are On The Way
Expect reimbursement corrections by the end of the year. Home health agencies can breathe... Read more
OASIS News:
FL Suit Pushes For More Home Care Funding
Plus: Discharging all of your Medicare patients will ruin your business. Your state... Read more
Reader Question:
Clear Up Any Scab Confusion With This Advice
Scabs don't always indicate non-healing surgical wounds Question: Can we use non-healing ... Read more
Prospective Payment System; Use OASIS To Knock Your NRS Billing Out Of The Park
Save time and money with this expert advice. Get ready: Your claims for nonroutine sup... Read more
Diagnosis Coding; Accurate Coding Will Net You More NRS Points
Here's a sequencing secret that will add $139 to your NRS payment. Now that you're using ... Read more
Outcomes; Rely On ROC Assessments To Reflect Your Quality Of Care
Correct resumption of care codes could determine your future. If you answer your resumpti... Read more
Continuing Education; Lower Your Mileage Costs -- Today
Here’s insider information on mileage, DME and medication use. • "Mini... Read more
Regulations; CMS Abbreviates OASIS Requirements, Again
With suspended requirements, documentation is critical. Hurricane Ike cleared a path thro... Read more
Education; Here's How To Spot Fully Healed Wounds
Remember: Scabs no longer indicate a non-healing wound. All home health agencies mu... Read more
Training; Test your wound code Training
Can you conquer these surgical wound coding conundrums? Surgical wound coding can be comp... Read more
OASIS News; Expect 7 Million Health Tech Users By 2012
Self-service will drive the trend. While health technology is still in its infancy, more ... Read more
Reader Question; Update Onset & Exacerbation Before You Hit 'Send'
But that's the intermediaries' rule -- not CMS's. Question: We are confused about when to... Read more
Training:
Correct These PPS Problems -- Or Pay The Price
Make sure your training program addresses these top mistakes. Now that you’re en... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Get Ready: Another Quality Campaign Will Kick Off In 2010
9th Scope of Work will include home health. Home health agencies worried that they might ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Ulcer, Diabetes Coding Changes Coming in 2009
Your coding will get more complex when new codes take effect Oct. 1. If you’ve g... Read more
Performance Improvement:
Tackle New ICD-9 Codes Before it's too late
Prepare for coding changes with this help. You have less than a month before you&rsquo... Read more
Reimbursement:
Check Homebound Status On Every Visit
Notice your patients' 'exhausting efforts.' If your patient drove his car to pick up his ... Read more
OASIS-C Update:
Watch For OASIS Extreme Makeover Proposal In October
New OASIS assessment seems likely to take more time. You get one chance to tell the fe... Read more
OASIS News:
M0110 Adjustments Are Delayed
Diagnosis coding guidance also discussed in CMS forum. You're going to have to wait a bit... Read more
Reader Question:
You Won't Get Full Episode Payment For MA Patients
And you may wind up handing money back to CMS. Question: I hope you can shed some additio... Read more
OASIS Update:
Wound Clarification Retracts Previous Answer
Retrain clinicians quickly on new guidance. Keep up with new "clarifications," or you'll ... Read more
Assessment:
Focus On Wound Assessment To Boost Your Bottom Line
Use these 4 tips to get the dollars you earned. If you don't correctly identify a wound o... Read more
Reimbursement:
Use These 5 Tips To Make Your
Here's how to get up to speed on crucial documentation strategies. Wound care is expensiv... Read more
Performance Improvement:
It's Time For A New Batch Of ICD-9 CM Codes -- Again
Tune in and improve wound care outcomes. Get ready to be deluged with coding changes a... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Keep Plan of Care In Mind When Choosing Primary Diagnosis
Avoid reimbursement considerations to enhance coding accuracy. You may think you have fou... Read more
Education:
M0520 Clarification Pinpoints Urinary Diversion Distinctions
Here's one more reason you should keep up with the latest Q&As. If you are supposed t... Read more
OASIS News:
Don't Provide Free Care For Transfer Patients
Document all transfer details to get paid. Here's one more thing to include in your admis... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn What To Do When Payers Split An Episode
Good clinician notes can save the day. Question: When a patient switches from traditional... Read more
Reimbursement:
Why Certified Coders Could Save Your Bottom Line
7 strategies for PPS success. You could be losing money under the revised home health pro... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Follow These 8 Steps To Discharge OASIS Accuracy
Discharge assessments are not just a formality. If your agency has a high average case mi... Read more
Performance Improvement:
The Year Is Half Over -- Will Your Agency Be A Winner?
Tune in and improve wound care outcomes. You'll be deluged with coding changes and non-ro... Read more
Compliance:
Avoid Losing Thousands In These Scenarios
Be especially cautious when episodes fit these three edit categories. Your intermediary's... Read more
Clip & Save:
Identify Which M0 Items Affect Reimbursement Under The 2008 Home Health PPS Refinements
Don't hand money back to the feds because of OASIS inaccuracies. More than ever befo... Read more
Education:
Which M0090 Date Is Correct?
Scenario: During her assessment visit, the nurse predicts three visits in M0826 (Ther-apy... Read more
OASIS News:
Home Health Coding Training Goes Online
If you're looking for an easy -- and free -- way to introduce ICD-9 coding to more of your... Read more
PPS Update:
Use Secondary Diagnoses For Accurate Reimbursement
Higher payments bypass many agencies. Would you like to have a snapshot of how some other... Read more
Reimbursement:
NRS Will Be Positive Once Agencies Adjust
OASIS answers determine nonroutine medical supplies payment. You have a new source of ... Read more
Inservice:
Here's How Your Agency Can Thrive In 2008 And Beyond
Plan now for immediate staff training. Get the latest information on how to survive th... Read more
Assessment:
Prevent Financial Losses By Understanding Ulcer Definitions
Use these resources to improve your OASIS assessment accuracy. How accurate is your staff... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Create A Coding Policy That Saves Time And Money
Inaccurate coding creates a flawed OASIS. If your agency's coding policy is inadequate --... Read more
Education:
Update Your Staff On This M0800 Clarification
Question: In answering M0800 (Man-agement of injectable medications), does it matter whet... Read more
OASIS Clarification:
Expect M0110 CWF Changes
Fully denied episodes cause M0110 confusion. You can't count on the common working file t... Read more
OASIS News:
Get Your 2008 PPS Questions Answered
Delve into the details underlying the dreaded 'case mix creep.' If you like charts and nu... Read more
Reader Question:
Discharge Followed By Readmit Can Create Problems
Without a SCIC, can you change the HHRG? Question: A new patient had a large contusi... Read more
Assessment:
Keep Focusing On OASIS Basics
Capture the case mix points you deserve using these 7 expert tips. When was the last time... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Use These Falls Prevention Models To Improve Outcomes
Learn from these 3 successful HHA programs. Falls are a primary reason for emergent care ... Read more
Therapy:
Don't Miss Clarification On Answering M0826
Know your options before answering M0826 on the ROC OASIS. A resumption-of-care OASIS can... Read more
PPS Update:
More Cuts Loom As Case Mix Numbers Improve
Pilot testing of new OASIS assessment begins. Agencies are caught in a catch 22: If you i... Read more
Inservice:
You Can't Afford to Miss Out On Reimbursement You Deserve
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency's performance without hiring y... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Poor Coding Choices Cause Denied Claims
Find out the first rule for diagnosis coding. Faulty ICD-9 coding can derail your claims ... Read more
Education:
What Defines Emergent Care?
M0830's definition of emergent care may not match yours. Question: When your patient goes... Read more
Reimbursement:
HHAs Still Waiting for RHHI Fix For M0110 Problem
Volunteers needed for next phase as post-acute demo begins. If you don't understand risk ... Read more
OASIS News:
Report Further Dissects Home Health Compare Data
In an annual report released in March, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality rank... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Confuse Rules For Injections And Infusions
Question: Our patient is getting cortisone injections at a doctor's office. When answerin... Read more
Therapy:
M0826 Clarification Addresses
More OASIS Q&As due out in April. Now you'll see why the question for M0826 is so lon... Read more
Reimbursement:
Coding Accuracy Adds Hundreds
Wound staging is not optional if you want proper payment. Your supplies reimbursement may... Read more
Assessment:
Use OASIS M0 Items To Look For
Give med accuracy the attention it deserves. When you admit a patient from another health... Read more
Outcomes:
Don't Just Review Medications -- Take Action
Use this tool to protect your patient and your agency. If you don't do a complete medicat... Read more
Inservice:
Here's How To Stay Compliant And Improve Reimbursement
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency’s performance without h... Read more
Clip & Save:
MEDICATION DISCREPANCY TOOL (MDT)
MDT is designed to facilitate reconciliation of a medication regimen across settings and ... Read more
Education:
Heed The Latest Word On M0440 And Ostomies
You thought you knew the answers, but are you sure? Questions: A) When answering M0440 (D... Read more
OASIS News:
QIOs' Focus Shifts From Agencies To Communities
Care transitions are the next big thing. If you've figured out effective ways to communic... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
There's More To V Codes Than Aftercare
Hunting for V codes in the alphabetic index of your ICD-9 manual can be frustrating. They'... Read more
Reimbursement:
Ease Your M0110 Struggles With These Clarifications
Choosing 'unknown' is acceptable practice, but it costs you. Now that the 2008 OASIS asse... Read more
Survey & Certification:
4 Ways OASIS Assessments Can Point Surveyors To Deficiencies
Don't let inconsistent medical records put your agency in jeopardy Your home health agenc... Read more
Compliance:
Here's How To Avoid Unpleasant Survey Surprises
Unnecessary agency policies and procedures can blow your survey. Use these basic practice... Read more
Inservice:
5 New Opportunities to Learn How to Thrive Under PPS
Get targeted up-to-date information to improve your agency’s performance without h... Read more
Assessment:
OASIS Can Be Key To Detecting Patient Abuse And Neglect
Most elder abuse takes place at home -- not in nursing homes. Add a Sherlock Holmes deer... Read more
Clip & Save:
Learn Elder Abuse Basics
You may be the patient's last hope. Home health agency clinicians working with the elderl... Read more
Education:
Get The Latest Scoop On M0800
Update your staff on the latest changes in Q&A guidance. True or False: When a patien... Read more
OASIS News:
Wage And Hour Issues May Accompany OASIS Changes
On-call pay could put you at risk of FLSA fines and penalties. Are you paying staff to at... Read more
Reader Question:
Episode Chain Breaks At 61 Days
M0110 definition of 'adjacent' is a crucial concept for payment. Question: When you are c... Read more
Assessment:
An Early Or A Later Episode -- Only The Feds Know For Sure
Follow these 7 steps to M0110 success. If you understand these basic guidelines, your M01... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Focus On Infections To Improve Pressure Ulcer Outcomes
Do you know when an infection requires an orthopedic consult? Besides improving survey an... Read more
Diagnosis Coding Outcomes:
Watch Out For Necrotic Wounds In Disguise
Your OASIS assessment may help you catch MRSA early. When you're assessing a patient's wo... Read more
Inservice:
We're Here To Help You Find Your Way Through The PPS Maze
When you’re trying to absorb as much information as possible about the new prospec... Read more
New PPS Multiplies The Value Of Sequencing Diagnoses
Co-morbidities are vital to accurate reimbursement. Your biggest OASIS challenge for 200... Read more
Compliance:
OASIS Documentation, Primary Diagnosis Top AHS Denial List
Don't lose sight of the basics while you're busy with PPS changes -- your intermediary is ... Read more
Education:
Master The Intricacies Of Start Of Care Assessment Timing
2 scenarios to help clear up your questions. True or False: When a home health agency's p... Read more
OASIS News:
PPS Glitches Stall RAP Payment
Proposed post-acute assessment tool is now in pilot program. Struggling to get your OASI... Read more
Reader Question:
Can You Call A Medical Device 'Clothing' For M0660?
Make sure your clinician understands the majority rule. Question: When we are answering M... Read more
Reimbursement:
Brief Staff On These Top 7 OASIS Issues For 2008
5 expert tips will get you started. Between OASIS clarifications and PPS refinements, hom... Read more
Test Your OASIS Savvy ...
Scenario #1: On the start of care OASIS, you answered M0110 ("Episode Timing: Is the Medi... Read more
Outcomes:
Home Health Compare Web Site Shows 2 New Measures
Prepare for questions about wound outcomes. Are you pulling ahead or falling behind? Trac... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Check Out The New Home Health Compare Measures
Patient satisfaction comparisons may be next. Your agency may be part of the problem. An ... Read more
Assessment:
Manage Pressure Ulcer Healing The NPUAP Way
Here's your early warning system for pressure ulcer deterioration. With two new wound car... Read more
Inservice:
Get Help From These New Educational Opportunities
If you're looking for help shouldering your PPS overload, check out these three new audioc... Read more
Clip And Save:
The PUSH Tool Can Identify A Pressure Ulcer Headed In The Wrong Direction
Assessment parameters help you quantify an ulcer's progress. Quantify pressure ulcer heal... Read more
Education:
Let Your Intermediary Do Some Of The Work Correcting RAPs
Scenario #1: On the start of care OASIS, you answered M0110 ("Episode Timing: Is the Medi... Read more
OASIS News:
Free Video Is Not A Kickback
Watch out for more grouper payment errors. A new advisory opinion provides more guidance ... Read more
Reader Question:
Medicare Advantage May Include Another Billing Disadvantage
MA patients excluded from quality measure. It may look like an episode and pay like an ep... Read more
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