Section C in the OASIS-E Guidance Manual provides instructions for assessing cognitive function through nine key items. Of these, three items—M1700 (Cognitive Functioning), M1710 (When Confused), and M1720 (When Anxious)—are critical for inclusion or exclusion from many OASIS-based outcome quality measures. Accurate assessment of these… Read More »OASIS Cognitive Items: Reviewing Guidelines and Their Impact
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2025 ICD-10-CM updates, which take effect on October 1, 2024. With 252 new codes, 36 deletions, and 13 revisions, it is crucial for Home Health agencies to stay updated with the changes to avoid… Read More »October 2024 ICD Coding Update: Key Insights for HHAs
On August 23, CMS released the Preview Annual Performance Reports (APR) for the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model. Labeled as the “CY 2024 APR” in iQIES, this report includes the home health agency’s adjusted payment percentage (APP) that will affect 2025 payments. It is… Read More »Reviewing the First Annual Performance Report for HHVBP
Starting in 2025, the GG section will play a larger role in the functional assessment category of OASIS and will significantly impact Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) and Quality Reporting programs. Effective January 1, 2025, the Total Normalized Composite Change in Mobility and Change in… Read More »Explaining the Impact of GG Items with the New Discharge Function Score
On June 26, CMS released the 2025 Home Health Proposed Rule. Among the changes are updates to OASIS requirements that will become mandatory in 2025. To recall, the 2023 Home Health Final Rule established that, starting in 2025, home health agencies must complete and transmit… Read More »Proposed Rule: OASIS Reporting Required for All Payers in 2025
On June 26th, CMS released the CY 2025 Home Health Proposed Payment Rule, outlining potential adjustments to Medicare payment rates, Quality Reporting, the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model, and other Medicare policies. We have summarized here the most notable proposed changes and updates: Payment… Read More »Key Updates from the CY 2025 Home Health Proposed Payment Rule
According to a new employment report released on June 7 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of new jobs in home healthcare continues to rise. The home healthcare services sector added approximately 13,900 jobs from March to April and 19,600 jobs from… Read More »2024 Data: Growth in Home Healthcare Jobs
According to newly published data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of the Actuary, national spending on home healthcare is expected to grow faster than any other health sector in the coming years. In 2022 alone, home health spending increased by approximately… Read More »Home health Spending Expected to Grow by 7.1%
The launch of OASIS-E on January 1, 2023, introduced several new assessment items, including N0415 High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication, to ensure consistency across various post-acute care settings. The purpose of the OASIS item is to determine if the patient is taking any medications… Read More »6 Tips for Answering N0415-High-Risk Drug Classes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the extension of the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for five more years effective June 1, 2024. RCD will continue in the current demonstration states of Illinois, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma. Removal of Choice… Read More »CMS Extends Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for 5 More Years
