OASIS Alert

Q: If a patient is on oxygen and has no nebulizers or inhalant meds, how do you answer M0790?

A: Because there are two separate M0 questions that address oxygen use, the intent seems to be to separate oxygen from inhalent medications while obtaining information on both, instructs Chapel Hill, NC-based senior clinical consultant Judy Adams with LarsonAllen Health Care Group.

M0790 specifically addresses nebulizers and other mist medication, and "although oxygen is a medical gas and is often listed in the medication section of the plan of care, it is not really an inhalant/mist medication," Adams says. So if the patient is on oxygen, but receiving no inhalent medications, you would answer M0790 "NA - No inhalent/mist medications prescribed."

M0500 addresses whether a patient is receiving oxygen and/or using a ventilator. This question specifically excludes nebulizers and inhalers.

M0810 addresses the management of oxygen equipment and includes set up, monitoring, changing equipment and adding fluids or medications.