Quarterly OASIS Q&As

October 2024:

Question 1: With OASIS data collection required for all patients regardless of payer starting July 1, 2025, will all OASIS data be used for quality or payment initiatives?

Answer 1: CMS will analyze and monitor the all-payer OASIS data before making any decisions on if, how, and when the data may be used. Any updates will be announced on the HHQRP Spotlight and Announcement webpage and/or through future rulemaking.

Question 2: When a new Start of Care (SOC) OASIS is required for an active home health patient due to a payer change, is an RN required to complete the SOC OASIS if multiple disciplines are active at the time of the new SOC?

Answer 2: When an active patient is receiving both nursing and rehabilitation therapy services and experiences a payer change mid-episode that requires a new Start of Care (SOC) OASIS, CMS recommends, but does not require, that the RN complete the SOC comprehensive assessment including OASIS.

Question 3: If a patient uses an interpreter to provide the responses for the OASIS item A1250 - Transportation, does this mean the patient is unable to respond, and both Code X - Patient unable to respond and the information obtained from the interpreter should be coded? 

Answer 3: When a patient responds in their preferred language with the use of an interpreter, this is considered a patient response. You would not code X - Patient unable to respond. Patients may respond to questions in English, or in their preferred language with the assistance of an interpreter.

Question 4:  Should laryngectomy care be coded under O0110E1 - Tracheostomy care?

Answer 4: Laryngectomy care is included in O0110E1 - Tracheostomy care.