OASIS Alert

Look for further information this month.

Question: The OASIS C data set has changed so much from the OASIS B-1. Once we begin using OASIS C, what will happen to our outcome reports and to Home Health Compare? How will we be able to make comparisons?

Answer: Some of the OASIS measures will be the same, some will be deleted, and others will be added, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in response to a similar question reported by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. The changes between OASIS B-1 and OASIS C mean CMS will need to produce new reports based on data from OASIS C, once enough data is available, the agency said.

New way: CMS plans to use three sets of reports under OASIS C.

• Process measure reports -- which do not require risk adjustment -- will present measures based on the new process of care items on OASIS C. The first CASPER reports presenting data on all the process measures will be based on the data from January 2010 through June 2010.

• Risk-adjusted outcomes reports will present outcome measures based on the OASIS C items and will be risk adjusted using new models developed using the OASIS C items. The first preview report of risk-adjusted OASIS C outcomes will be based on data from January 2010 through December 2010.

• Potentially avoidable events reports (formerly adverse events) will present data on adverse events, based on OASIS C. CMS has not yet decided whether to develop risk-adjustment models for these measures.

Heads up: Look for descriptions of the revised quality measures and drafts of revised report formats on CMS'Web site by the end of September, the agency said in its answer.