OASIS Alert

Test Your OASIS  Savvy...

Question: What is the correct date to put in M0090 (Date assessment completed)?

A) The date of the home visit during which the clinician assessed the patient.

B) The date the supervisor checked to be sure the assessment was complete and correct.

C) The date the clinician collected the last piece of information for the assessment, either from the patient, family members or the physician.

Answer: C. If the clinician completes all the assessment items during the home visit, use that date. But if the clinician needs additional information from the doctor, hospital or family that is collected after the home visit, use the last date the clinician obtains assessment information, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructs in the OASIS questions and answers available at www.qtso.com/guides/hha/cat4.pdf.

First, check your agency's policy to be sure it allows the clinician to complete the assessment over more than one day, CMS reminds agencies.

Tip: Optimal agency policy will allow time for collaboration between team members to accurately assess functional items before the completion date, suggests the 3M National OASIS Integrity Project in its final report.

Editor's Note: The 3M report is available at www.fazzi.com/3MNOIP.pdf.