OASIS Alert

M0830's definition of emergent care may not match yours.

Question: When your patient goes to the doctor because a problem has arisen, and the doctor sees the patient within 24 hours, is that always emergent care? What if the prompt appointment is only because someone just cancelled an appointment for the next day? Or can you also consider what care was provided and whether it was truly emergent, that is "calling for prompt action?"

Answer: "The reason 'why' the patient sought medical attention is not considered, only the time frame between the contact with the medical service and the visit is considered," the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says in its answer to the question posed by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice.

To answer M0830 (Emergent care), the assessing clinician only needs to determine if the visit was scheduled within 24 hours of the time the care was provided, CMS instructs.

Note: This and other Q&As are on the NAHC Web site at http://www.nahc.org.