OASIS Alert

EDUCATION ~ Do You Know When A C-PAP Counts?

Hint: That depends on how it's used.

Question: Using the July 2006 OASIS clarification the Centers for Med-icare & Medicaid Services released, does a C-PAP machine that is not delivering oxygen count:

A) Both as a treatment in answering M0500 (Respiratory treatment utilized at home) and as equipment when assessing M0810 (Patient management of equipment) and M0820 (Caregiver management of equipment).

B) Only in M0500, not in M0810 and M0820.

C) Only in M0810 and M0820, not in M0500.

D) Neither in M0500 nor in M0810/820.

Answer: B) Only in M0500, not in M0810 and M0820.

Whether the C-PAP machine is attached to oxygen is not important for answering M0500, because continuous positive airway pressure is one of the treatments listed for this OASIS item -- as answer number three.

But item M0810 includes only the equipment specified. Unless the patient is using other specified equipment, a C-PAP not delivering oxygen would require the answer NA (No equipment of this type used in care), CMS says in question 42 of the July clarifications. You would then skip M0820, the OASIS instructs.

Note: The July 2006 OASIS Q&As are at www.oasiscertificate.org. Select "Resources."