Today, we’re going to explore the possibility of four new items possibly being incorporated into your current comprehensive assessment—well before they are set to officially become part of the OASIS document in 2027. This would allow us to start identifying the key areas to highlight once they take effect.
These four health-related social needs will be added to the OASIS in January 2027. They include:
- Living Situation – Assessing whether the patient’s current residence is stable or if they have concerns about their future housing.
- Food Security – Determining if the patient struggles to afford food, worries about having enough to eat, or skips meals due to financial constraints.
- Utility Bills – Identifying whether the patient has difficulties paying for essential utilities.
- Transportation – Understanding if a lack of reliable transportation has caused them to miss medical appointments, work, or other important commitments.
These factors are undeniably tied to a patient’s overall health, even if it may not seem immediately obvious. Constant worry about having enough food, reliable transportation to medical appointments, or stable housing can take a significant toll on their mental well-being. Additionally, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to clean drinking water, or insufficient heating in the winter can have direct and serious effects on their physical health. Addressing these concerns is essential to providing comprehensive care.
It is strongly recommended that you start incorporating these items into your current comprehensive assessment now. Using the exact wording from the released set will ensure that when OASIS officially implements them in 2027, your clinicians will already be familiar with the questions and the process of gathering patient responses. This proactive approach will make the transition smoother and more effective.
These items will play a key role in the risk adjustment of your outcome measures, as they are part of the Home Health Quality Reporting Program. By integrating them into your comprehensive assessment now, you can better identify patients at high risk for rehospitalization due to missed medical appointments, lack of proper nutrition, and other critical factors. This early implementation will also help in identifying patients who may be at high risk of not being able to improve their current conditions.
These items will officially be introduced in January 2027. If you need any assistance in understanding these questions or guidance on how to incorporate them into your current comprehensive assessment, please feel free to reach out to us.
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We also look forward to seeing you at one of our two-day workshops this summer. For more information, and to register, visit either our Hospice Workshop or Home Health Workshop pages.