OASIS Alert

Question: When answering M0200 (Medical or Treatment Regimen Change Within Past 14 Days), which of the following--occurring within the 14 days--is NOT considered a medical or treatment change?

A) Physician referral for home health services.
B) Medication adjusted for previously diagnosed diabetes.
C) Insulin started for newly diagnosed diabetes.
D) Office appointment with referring physician.
E) Both A and D.

Answer: E. For the purposes of M0200, "a physician appointment by itself or a referral for home health services does not qualify as a medical or treatment regimen change," the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructs in Question 40 of its recently released OASIS questions and answers.

You should focus on any change in treatment, whether or not it is accompanied by a change in diagnosis, CMS suggests. Some examples of qualifying changes include:

• Change in medication dosage.
• Newly ordered therapy services.
• New medication prescribed.
• Change in wound treatment.

Tip: A treatment regimen change occurring on the day of assessment does qualify as having occurred within the 14 days, CMS adds.

Note: Access CMS' Q&As at www.qtso.com/hhadownload.html --scroll down to OASIS Q&As and select Category 4.