The Recertification OASIS is one of the most critical assessments in Home Health—yet it’s also one of the most error-prone. Many clinicians treat it as a simple continuation of care, which often leads to copying prior data, failing to update diagnoses, or overlooking subtle functional changes that have occurred during the episode. These common mistakes can cause inaccurate case-mix scores, compliance risks, and missed opportunities to show patient improvement under the HHVBP model.
Getting the Recert OASIS right means taking a step back to re-evaluate—not just continue—the plan of care. Below are practical tips and best practices to help complete a Recertification OASIS more efficiently and accurately.
1. Compare, Don’t Copy
It’s tempting to reuse information from the previous OASIS, but always compare each functional and clinical item against current findings. Even subtle changes—like improved transfer ability or increased assistance needs—can impact outcomes and HHVBP performance scores.
Pro tip: Review the patient’s prior OASIS side-by-side with your current assessment to identify trends, not just repeat answers.
2. Use the 5-Day Window Strategically
The Recert OASIS can be completed within the last 5 days of the current certification period, but don’t wait until the last minute. Scheduling early allows time to address new orders or physician clarifications that affect the new plan of care.
3. Reassess Homebound Status
Homebound eligibility is often assumed, but CMS requires ongoing justification. Update documentation to show why leaving home remains a taxing effort—include current barriers such as endurance, pain, or safety risks. This helps avoid denials during medical review.
4. Focus on Functional Progress (GG Items)
The recert period is an opportunity to capture measurable progress in GG functional items. Ensure the scoring reflects real improvement supported by documentation in therapy and nursing notes. This not only supports HHVBP scoring but demonstrates care effectiveness.
5. Update Diagnoses and Coding
Review all active diagnoses and comorbidities for continued relevance. Accurate coding directly affects reimbursement and case-mix adjustment.
a. Remove resolved conditions (e.g., post-op wound now healed).
b. Add new diagnoses supported by current physician documentation.
c. Sequence correctly: Choose the primary diagnosis that best represents the main reason for continued home health services.
6. Revisit the Plan of Care
The recert process is not just administrative—it’s clinical. Use your updated findings to refine goals, visit frequency, and interventions. If patient progress has plateaued, document why continued care remains reasonable and necessary.
7. Leverage QA Review as a Safety Net
Before transmitting Recert OASIS, ensure it undergoes a thorough QA review. A second set of eyes can catch inconsistencies—such as mismatched diagnoses, incomplete GG scoring, or conflicting narrative notes—that might otherwise slip through.
Treat QA feedback as a partnership, not a correction. Consistent collaboration with QA specialists sharpens your assessment accuracy over time and strengthens your clinical documentation practices.
The Recertification OASIS demonstrates the value of continued care. By avoiding copy-forward errors, reassessing homebound status, updating both diagnoses and functional scoring, and using QA as your final checkpoint, agencies can maintain compliance, optimize reimbursement, and ensure the care plan remains truly responsive to the patient’s current needs.
