OASIS Alert

Question: Choose the true statement(s) below.
 
A) When a patient switches to a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare re-quires you to conduct a new start of care OASIS assessment.
 
B) When a patient switches from a MA plan to Medicare fee for service, Medicare requires a new SOC OASIS assessment.
 
 1. A only.
 2. B only.
 3. Both A and B.

Answer: 2. B only.
 
Although Medicare doesn't require a new SOC OASIS when a patient switches to an MA plan, an agency's own policies or the MA plan's rules may require this, explained a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services staffer during the May 24 Open Door Forum for home care providers.

Tip: If you don't discover the change in Medicare plans until later, create a SOC OASIS assessment from the clinical information in the record, the spokesperson said. The date in M0090 will be the date you created the assessment. And you should document the reason for the late assessment in the record and on the OASIS validation report, the staffer recommended.