What are the changes to OASIS E1?
We say it all the time, the only constant in life is change. Home Health has had many changes in recent years. We've completely changed the reimbursement structure to PDGM. We have been through a pandemic, record inflation, rate reductions, staffing challenges, introduced Value Based Purchasing, changed from OASIS D to OASIS E, now to OASIS E1. Luckily, the changes to OASIS E1 are fairly minimal. However, it does give agencies time to focus on continued important changes and focus on continuous improvement and nagging challenges facing the industry.
The changes we discuss in this blog for OASIS E1 will be split into two parts. What's going away, and what's being added. You can find the must updated OASIS E1 Manual here.
What questions are going away in OASIS E1?
CMS has removed M0110 for Episode Timing. This is probably a net positive as it can be confusing for clinicians and the claim is automatically adjusted on the back end of the claim for timing.
CMS has also removed M2200 Therapy Need from OASIS. This can still be tracked, but is no longer part of OASIS and both M0110 and M2200 are no longer used for Quality Reporting Program.
In more of an update, CMS has removed the discharge goals from GG0130/GG0170 (commentary, YEA!!!!) from the Start of Care and Resumption of Care. CMS says "The GG0130 Self Care and GG0170 Mobility items are revised to remove the Discharge Goals, due to the removal of the Application of Percent of Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Patients with an Admission and Discharge Functional Assessment and a Care Plan that Addresses Function (Application of Functional Assessment/Care Plan), also finalized in the CY2024 HH final rule." The goals have been pretty cumbersome for clinicians and haven't really served much of a purpose. HOWEVER (notice the capital letters). Do not be deceived- GG Questions are still very important for Value Based Purchasing purposes. Agencies are still being evaluated not only if a patient improved from SOC/ROC to discharge, but HHVBP now requires them to quantify the improvement upon discharge. So, the actual discharge performance is way more important than the discharge goal. For a refresher on HHVBP, read about that here and here.
What is being added to OASIS E1?
The main reason for updating to OASIS E1 is to add a new item. The New Item is O0350 Patient's COVID-19 Vaccination is Up to Date. The answer is simple. Yes or No.
What is changing in OASIS E1?
In addition to removing two and adding one question. CMS also made some other updates. CMS updated M2420 with language that changed the language in Response 1 and 2 from "formal assistive services" with "Skilled services from a Medicare Certified HHA".
There is also updated instructions in D0150 Patient Mood Interview on the skip pattern on when to complete the interview after completing D0150A and D0150B and when to ask the remaing 7 D0150 questions.
Home Care Answers is here to provide education, expert review, and partnership with 100% US based coders and reviewers. We maximize your investment by ensuring coding and OASIS is correct and Accurate- thereby maximizing reimbursement for agencies and ensuring data sent to CMS is accurate so that agencies have the best shot at policy based on accurate data.