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OASIS Alert

Patient Satisfaction:
CAHPS Deadlines Stands Firm, CMS Says
But you still have time to head off payment penalties. There's bad news for those whose h... Read more
Assessment:
Follow The 3 Ws To Accurately Track Ambulation Improvement
4 scenarios reveal your ability to choose the correct score for M1860. Knowing that your ... Read more
Refer To This Cheat Sheet For 1860 Responses
Score 0 if patient can ambulate everywhere without device or human assistance. Score 1 if ... Read more
Reimbursement:
Keep Your Patients Off Auditors' Radars
Focus on 8 crucial problem areas to secure your bottom line. Auditors are hot on the trai... Read more
Brush Up On Medicare's Definition of Homebound
The Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7 states that "the condition of [homebound] pa... Read more
Education:
Use OASIS To Protect Elderly Patients
Here's how to spot abuse and neglect in patients' homes. If you think most instances of e... Read more
News:
Improve Your Care Transitions … For Free
New BPIP offers tried-and-true techniques. Getting patients' information from their previo... Read more
Submit OASIS Data For Every Medicare Episode " Or Else
Avoid denials with this expert advice. Now's the time to ensure your OASIS data submissio... Read more
Add This Government Audit Contractor To Your List
RACs and ZPICs have yet another set of eyes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serv... Read more
The Door Is Closing On Pre-2010 Claims, Cahaba Warns
Even RAPs, claims, and adjustments must meet 2010 deadline. Thanks to new timely filing r... Read more
Reader Question:
Apply This Ulcer Sequencing For Diabetic Patients
Note: Multiple ulcers don't require multiple codes. Question: Our new patient has type I ... Read more
Assessment:
Use Education To Protect Patients From Medication Mistakes
A little investigation and a lot of patient interaction will make your job easier. You wa... Read more
Regulations:
Payment Suspension Proposal Draws Criticism
New anti-fraud regs increase CMS's reach to combat fraud and abuse. All it will take to ru... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Refresh Your M1024 Case Mix Coding Savvy
Never select a diagnosis just for the case mix points it will earn. Your OASIS tool isn't... Read more
Industry news:
OIG Targets OASIS Data For Scrutiny In 2011
HHAs' profit margins and coding accuracy will also go under the microscope. The Centers f... Read more
Audits:
3 Tips Help Audit-Proof Your Diagnosis Coding
Coding for case mix is bound to leave your claims hanging under audit. ZPIC audits are hi... Read more
Billing:
Keep Your Flu Shot Billing Straight With These Resources
Don't bill separately for vaccination supplies, intermediary warns. With fall comes flu se... Read more
Case Study:
Homebound Status Trips Up Audited HHA
Don't make these same mistakes. If your patient is leaving the home, you'd better show it ... Read more
Therapy:
New Regs Make HHA Contracts Less Attractive
Improve your therapy documentation now to avoid problems later. Any therapists contractin... Read more
Reader Question:
M1740 and M1745? Let Self-Injury Be Your Guide
You may often report the same behaviors for both items -- but that's not a hard and ... Read more
Compliance:
Tackle Drug Regimen Review With This Expert Advice
Don't let lax policies -- or physicians -- leave your patients in medication li... Read more
2 Tips To Streamline The Notification Process
OASIS C sets time limits on your medication review work, but many physicians aren't on th... Read more
Bookmark These Online Resources
Agencies don't have to go it alone when trying to manage and monitor patients' drug regime... Read more
Training Tool:
Watch Out For These Common High-Risk Medications
Get ahead of the curve by teaching clinicians to recognize medications and how they work.... Read more
Clip & Save:
Here's How To Alert Caregivers To Medication Problems
Give everyone the tools to catch -- and fix -- medication concerns. While only ... Read more
Sample Document:
Don't Let Medical Discrepancies Slip Through The Cracks
Use this tool to keep prescribers and caregivers on the same page. Reconciling medication ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Learn When It's OK To Code Symptoms
Look to sequencing instructions for exceptions to the symptom coding rule. You know the r... Read more
Assessment:
Expect More Belt-Tightening with Hypertension Case Mix Changes
Alert: The average payment reduction is $281 per episode. You know that hypertension (HTN... Read more
Reader Question:
Stick To This Advice When Staging Sutured Pressure Wounds
If you can't see it, you can't stage it in M1306. Question: We have a new patient who ent... Read more
Compliance:
Breathe Easy With This Expert M1400 Advice
Incorrect interpretations will cloud your clinicians' responses. If your agency is strugg... Read more
Training:
Make M1400 Mastery A Group Effort
Add to these five scenarios to test your staffers' understanding of dyspnea. When trainin... Read more
Assessment:
Don't Wait For A Fall To Assess Patients' Risk
Your proactive approach could save your agency -- and your patients -- big time. Just bec... Read more
Clip & Save:
6 Tips Clear the Way to Correct Wound Coding
Hint: If you get stumped, look to the origin of the wound for guidance. Coding for any pa... Read more
Sample Document:
Use This Tool To Assess Any Patient's Falls Risk
This simple metric can help you stay ahead of falls. Worried about your patient's risk fo... Read more
News You Can Use:
Avoid This Mistake Nearly 7,000 Agencies Are Making
Don't let one staffer hold all the keys to your online OASIS system submissions. Only regi... Read more
Hospice:
Thwart 3 Reporting Myths to Help Prevent Elder Abuse
You don't need proof beyond a reasonable doubt to make an abuse report. Hospice staff are ... Read more
Common Types of Elder Abuse
It's a sad truth that elder abuse comes in many forms. And the signs of elder mistreatment... Read more
Assessment:
APPLY THE CORRECT LIVING SITUATION LABEL IN 3 STEPS
Just one mistake early on will throw off your entire assessment. Take note -- a... Read more
Trends:
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FORCING FAMILY CAREGIVERS' HANDS
Expect big changes in caregivers' ability to tend to at-home patients. When assessing the... Read more
Education:
AVOID TUNNEL VISION WHEN MEASURING ULCER DEPTH
But document everything you see -- and even what you can't. If you get thrown for a ... Read more
LISTEN UP:
3 TIPS WILL GIVE VOICE TO PATIENTS' HEARING LOSS
Take control of patients' environments to reveal auditory problems. Just because your pat... Read more
Patient Satisfaction:
DON'T IGNORE CAHPS 3Q DEADLINE
Miss the survey requirement now and face a 2 percent reimbursement hit later Think you ha... Read more
Toolkit:
HOME IN ON HEARING LOSS WITH THIS TEST
Early detection of auditory problems is best for everyone. Hearing loss isn't inevitable ... Read more
News You Can Use:
UPDATE YOUR USER MANUAL
Errata sheet corrects CMS's wrongs. Don't let OASIS C changes sneak in under your radar.... Read more
Reader Question:
HERE'S HOW TO MANAGE MULTIPLE DIABETIC MANIFESTATIONS
Be sure each manifestation gets its own treatment. Question: Our 72-year-old male patient... Read more
Compliance:
PACK SATISFACTION INTO EVERY PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE
Use these cost-saving strategies to improve patient satisfaction while sticking to your b... Read more
Assessment:
5 FIELD-TESTED TECHNIQUES TO DETECT & ADDRESS DELIRIUM
Use M1700 to catch your patient's decreased cognitive function in time to turn it around.... Read more
Training:
SET YOUR SIGHTS ON THESE DELIRIUM-INDUCING DRUGS
Train clinicians to consult this list to stay ahead of the curve. Know the best way to pr... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
PROTECT YOUR REIMBURSEMENT AGAINST THESE COMMON DIABETES CODING MISTAKES
Remember to list V58.67 for type II patients on insulin. Diabetes may be the diagnosis mo... Read more
News You Can Use:
HOSPITAL READMISSIONS SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Home care could play a vital role in preventing unnecessary health spending. Your HH Comp... Read more
Continuing Education:
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE ONLINE COURSES
You don’t have to pay big bucks to send your clinicians out for training. Rather, ... Read more
Hospice:
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP REIMBURSEMENT FLOWING
Watch for new claims edits in July. This year has already been a busy one for new claim r... Read more
GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SCALE:
SHORT FORM
Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week: 1. Are you basically sati... Read more
Reader Question:
LEARN THE RULES FOR COMPLETING M1024
Our experts help with some of your most pressing questions. Do you know where to turn whe... Read more
Quality Improvement:
PBQI DELIVERS ON MANY QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROMISES
Sophistication and budget will drive agencies' success. Home health workers have a new gu... Read more
Assessment:
FOCUS ON PATIENT'S ABILITY WHEN RESPONDING TO 1810/1820
Hint: Modified clothing choices could level the playing field. After struggling for month... Read more
Clip & Save:
SMOOTH OUT PHYSICIAN COMMUNICATION WRINKLES WITH THIS TOOL
Get all the information you need in one guided conversation. With OASIS C's focus on qual... Read more
Training:
USE THIS SAMPLE SCENARIO TO HONE YOUR STAFF'S SKILLS
A little practice goes a long way when discussing patient care. Just talking about physic... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
NO CASE POINTS? STAY FAR AWAY FROM ITEM M1024
Here's what you should -- and shouldn't -- consider when choosing a diagnosis c... Read more
News You Can Use:
PREPARE FOR FEDS TO PEEK AT YOUR THERAPY VISIT RECORDS
Wall Street Journal article kicks off congressional probe. No matter how sharp you hone y... Read more
Education; 2 STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR PATIENT'S M2020 SCORE
Ask a few key questions to discern patients' independence. Your patient is both smart and... Read more
Hospice:
KNOW YOUR PATIENTS' RIGHTS: DOES YOUR HOSPICE NOE PASS MUSTER?
Don't let these four common errors trip up your claims. Are you sure your notice of elect... Read more
Continuing Education:
HAMMER OUT YOUR AGENCY'S ROLE IN HH CAHPS
Your home health agency's patient satisfaction data will be posted on the Internet e... Read more
Strategies:
CLEARLY INDICATE PATIENTS' PAIN WITH THIS EXPERT ADVICE
Follow this guidance to ensure you correctly assess pain. Just because an item in OASIS C... Read more
Education:
NOTE THESE 2 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN M2250 & M2400
Hint: One hinges on changes in pain since the last assessment. At first glance, M2250 and... Read more
Training:
MAKE 'BACKWARD' YOUR MOTTO FOR POC TABLES
Read right-to-left or risk inaccurate responses, experts warn. For the first time in OASI... Read more
Wound Care:
2 QUESTIONS BOOST YOUR WOUND CODING ACCURACY
Make better use of valuable treatment time with this advice. Making the wrong assumpti... Read more
Patient Satisfaction:
CAHPS DEADLINE JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Apply for exemption by June or face payment hit. If you've been putting CAHPS on the back... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
REMOVE ANY CONFUSION FROM INPATIENT PROCEDURE CODES
Look no further for clarity on what the 14-day rule actually measures. OASIS C has been a... Read more
Industry News:
BRAND-NEW OASIS C GUIDANCE ON ITS WAY
Be on the lookout for new training opportunities,too. The Centers for Medicare & Medi... Read more
Direct Care:
OLDER PERSONAL AND HOME CARE AIDES LOOKING AFTER ELDERLY
Labor market faces an aging workforce in short supply. The U.S. will have 1.2 million dir... Read more
Continuing Education:
TAKE THE STING OUT OF OASIS' PROCEDURE CODES
Clear up your Appendix D confusion, too. OASIS C offered many new items, but procedure... Read more
Reader Question:
HERE'S HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR ICD-10 IMPLEMENTATION
Don't depend on a soft-start; get ready for this set-in-stone date. Question: I've heard ... Read more
Wound Care:
ADD 'UNAVOIDABLE' TO YOUR PRESSURE ULCER DESCRIPTIONS
New stance shows your ulcer-prevention intent -- no matter the final outcome. Your c... Read more
Training:
4 MORE STRATEGIES FOR AVOIDING OASIS C PITFALLS
Build these expert tips into your assessment repertoire. There are still a few headaches ... Read more
Assessment:
RELY ON THIS GUIDANCE TO CORRECTLY ANSWER M1308
Replace previous information with this final word. Last fall's confusing wound guidance m... Read more
Quality Improvement:
USE HHQI CAMPAIGN TO BOOST YOUR OASIS OUTCOMES
Share your agency's data to improve everyone's measures. Every service your clinicians an... Read more
Coding:
USE ACCURACY TO SHOW YOUR OASIS EXPERTISE
Focus on correct coding will result in maximum payoff. Agencies are so focused on the OAS... Read more
Clip & Save:
REFER TO THIS CHECKLIST TO REDUCE FALLS RISK
Spot and eliminate potential problems before patients stumble over them. You don't have t... Read more
Education:
DON'T TAKE A HIT ON VACCINE ADMINISTRATION
You don't have to physically possess vaccines to get credit for them. Many states forbid ... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS STARTS CLOCK FOR CAHPS DATA COUNTDOWN
Be on the lookout for revisions to survey coming down the pike. You aren't required to su... Read more
Human Resources:
5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME HEALTH WORKERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
These checklists help you keep workers safe and improve retention. If you're looking for ... Read more
SNEAK PEAK
Need more home care advice and strategies? Check out our free online newswire at http://ho... Read more
Reader Question:
FIND THE MISSING OASIS TABLES
Here's where you can locate diagnoses and other valuable data, too. Question: Where are t... Read more
Quality Improvement:
CUT DOWN ON HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH THIS PNEUMONIA PREVENTION PLAN
Here are three easy ways to keep your patients healthy. OASIS C's focus on processes and ... Read more
Test Your OASIS C Savvy ...
Question: Our clinicians currently are using a validated falls risk assessment tool when ... Read more
Training:
5 PROVEN METHODS FOR STEPPING OVER OASIS C HOTSPOTS
Tame the paper tiger with CMS's item-byitem guidance. Just because we're a few months in... Read more
Inservice:
CATCH THIS OASIS GUIDANCE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Clear up your CAHPS confusion and prepare for the future with these audioconferences. ... Read more
Reimbursement:
A PICTURE COULD GET YOU PAID FOR WOUND CARE MANAGEMENT
Show skin breakdown and verify your staff's work in one step. A picture is worth a thousa... Read more
Education :
DON'T LET SEMI-INDEPENDENT BATHERS WASH OUT YOUR M1830 RESPONSE
Note patients' ability to get into the tub or shower to choose correct number. The Center... Read more
Wound Care; AVOID THIS TRICKY STASIS ULCER CODING TRAP
One general rule takes some guesswork out of M1334. If you're not sure whether the wound ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
WATCH FOR THESE EXCEPTIONS TO YOUR LATE-EFFECTS CODING RULES
Think you've got CVA figured out? Late effect turns guidelines upside down. When coding f... Read more
News You Can Use:
PREPARE FOR NEW HELP WITH MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
New grant could ease your burden from patients with multiple medications. Think you have ... Read more
Clip & Save:
MEASURE THE SEVERITY & IMPACT OF URINARY INCONTINENCE WITH THIS TOOL
Add this to your intake process to spot hidden urinary incontinence problems. Any patient... Read more
Reader Question:
ADD THESE FALLS RISK ASSESSMENT TIPS TO YOUR OASIS ARSENAL
Careful: Not just any risk assessment test will do, CMS says. Question: Our clinicians cu... Read more
OASIS C Update:
2-PART INTAKE ASSESSMENTS MAY EASE YOUR OASIS C TRANSITION
Don't forget to allow time for providing skilled care. You'll get better OASIS C data&nbs... Read more
Test Your OASIS C Savvy ...
Scenario: On Friday you admit Mr.B, a patient with complex needs who is new to your agenc... Read more
Quality Improvement:
PREPARE FOR MAJOR CHANGES IN QUALITY REPORTING
Outcome information will remain static for more than a year. One huge piece of the OASIS ... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE DISAPPOINTS MANY AGENCIES
POS vs. paper may be the wrong OASIS C question to ask. If you are completing the OASIS C... Read more
Assessment :
CLEAR UP M1308 CONFUSION AT DISCHARGE WITH A 2-STEP APPROACH
WOCN's new guidance is crucial for your OASIS C success. With 12 questions just on pressu... Read more
Education :
DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND M2000/M2002?
Be sure you complete the required steps before you answer 'yes'. Scenario: On Friday you ... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
VERIFY DOCUMENTATION TO AVOID PULMONARY CODING ERRORS
Obstructive chronic bronchitis covers more conditions than you might expect. Emphysema qu... Read more
News You Can Use :
PREPARE FOR OASIS LOGIN CHANGES
Download 148-page 'Best Practice Manual.' Sharing an OASIS login identification number wi... Read more
Home Health Compare:
FOCUS ON THESE 23 MEASURES FOR PUBLIC REPORTING
Publicly reported process measures go live in September Use the transition lag time betwe... Read more
Resources:
USE THIS GUIDE FOR QUICK ACCESS TO IMPORTANT CMS WEB SITES
Knowing where to look is half the battle. Tape this handy chart next to your computer to ... Read more
Assessment:
FOR OASIS ACCURACY, EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL JUDGMENT
M1032 and M1034 replace the dreaded life expectancy OASIS item. Each patient assessment w... Read more
OASIS C Update :
TRAIN STAFF ON OASIS C CHANGES
Check out latest CMS ‘errata’ document. Don’t incorporate errors in ... Read more
Quality Improvement:
USE THESE 4 STEPS TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS
Following these steps will make M2010 and M2015 easier to answer. Here's the most importa... Read more
Reimbursement:
IMPROVE PROFITABILITY: TEACH CLINICIAN/CODER COOPERATION
Receive your rightful reimbursement with a case management approach to diagnosis coding. ... Read more
News You Can Use:
YOUR OASIS C LOGIN INFORMATION HAS CHANGED
CMS' Care Transitions project is beginning to show results. As if OASIS C changes weren't... Read more
Studies & Surveys:
BEWARE OF MEDICATIONS THAT INCREASE PNEUMONIA RISK
Sedation and swallowing disorders can be unintended consequences. Use your OASIS C assess... Read more
Reader Question :
ASSESSMENT COMPLETION DATE IS KEY FACTOR
Critical decision: Which OASIS to use. Question: How do we know when to use OASIS B-1 and... Read more
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