CMS recently released an update to the OASIS-E Guidance Manual. The draft manual was released and revised in May 2022 and CMS released the final manual in December 2022. There have been multiple updates to the new items being added to the OASIS with OASIS-E, including changes to the content of the items and instructions from D0150 and D0160, which is the PHQ2 to PHQ9 assessments for depression.
The language of the instructions and examples for K0520, which is the new item for nutrition and N0415 for high-risk medications have been updated. There have also been guidance updates to O0110 that is specific to additional treatments. CMS has also updated the definition of rehabilitation therapy in J0520. C0500 had an update in this manual that revises some language surrounding the use of the dash. These are not major changes to how the assessments are to be completed. The changes are primarily to revise some of the actual wording and instructions of how you are to complete the items. Nothing significant that should change any education that you have already provided for your staff.
OASIS-E is set to start January 1, 2023. Make sure you are clear that this will impact any OASIS where the Date the Assessment is Completed, the M0090 date, is January 1, 2023 or later. This is not “starts of care January 1 or later.” It is any OASIS with a Date the Assessment is Completed of January 1, 2023 or later. You are going to have some patients that have Start of Care dates that are done at the end of this year that will be OASIS-D1 and then a transfer, resumption, or discharge that is completed in 2023, and that will be based on the OASIS-E. This is the same as effective dates every time there is a major update to the OASIS.
Do you need help with OASIS education? We offer a 5-part OASIS-E Training Series to help you understand OASIS-E guidance and conventions. Your team will receive 5+ hours of detailed OASIS-E content INCLUDING a 10-question quiz for each session. There is a product overview video available to walk you through what you will receive in this digital package.
HPS also offers the Home Health Guide to OASIS: A Reference for Field Staff, 2023. This 2023 updated OASIS guide provides a quick reference for completing the OASIS-E, with tips and callouts on new items, including which items impact Patient Quality of Care Star Ratings, Value-Based Purchasing, and PDGM reimbursement.