The implementation of OASIS-E2 is just ahead, scheduled for April 1, 2026. Home health agencies should start preparing now, as the changes to data items and guidance can impact workflow, documentation, and reporting. Staying informed about the updates is important for a smooth transition. Here… Read More »Getting Ready for OASIS-E2 Rollout on April 1
The April 1 ICD-10 update includes important changes to coding instructions, such as updates to ‘Excludes’ notes and ‘code also’ guidance in 13 chapters. While these updates do not introduce any new, deleted, or revised diagnosis codes, they can still affect code selection and sequencing.… Read More »ICD-10 Update Effective April 1: What You Need to Know
The Medicare telehealth flexibilities that allowed home health face-to-face (F2F) encounters to be conducted via telehealth have expired as of January 30, 2026. These flexibilities had been extended several times, with the most recent extension issued in November 2025, which extended the rules through January… Read More »Urgent Update: Telehealth Flexibilities Expired January 30, 2026 – Possible Extension Pending
In the CY 2026 Home Health Final Rule, CMS updated how functional impairment levels are calculated under PDGM. Each home health episode is assigned a functional impairment score based on responses to OASIS Functional items (commonly called M-items), which assess a patient’s ability to perform… Read More »Reminder: 2026 Updated OASIS M-Item Functional Points
In the CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment Final Rule, CMS finalized updates to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) that recalibrate how comorbid conditions influence payment adjustments. These updates reflect CMS’s ongoing effort to better align Medicare payments with actual patient care needs using the… Read More »2026 Updated Comorbidity Subgroups and Interactions
As 2026 begins, home health agencies should keep an eye on several updates that could affect payments, documentation, and compliance. We have listed the updates we believe will matter most to agencies and have a direct impact on day-to-day operations. Staying informed will help agencies… Read More »Recap of Home Health Updates to Watch for 2026
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2026 Home Health Final Payment Rule on November 28. We have summarized the key changes home health agencies should be ready for in 2026. Medicare Payment Update CMS projects that Medicare aggregate payments… Read More »Key Updates from the CY 2026 Home Health Final Rule
With the implementation of the FY 2026 ICD‑10‑CM updates effective October 1, 2025, a new diagnosis code has been introduced: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus without complications, in remission (E11.A). This code was created to reflect an increasingly common clinical scenario: patients who previously had type 2 diabetes but no… Read More »Guidelines for Documenting and Coding Diabetes in Remission in Home Health
Quality Assurance (QA) review for the OASIS is essential to ensure accuracy, compliance, and optimal reimbursement in home health. However, without the right strategy in place, QA reviews can become time-consuming, inconsistent, and burdensome for clinicians. By implementing best practices, the review process can be… Read More »Best Practices for Efficient OASIS QA Review Program
In home health, accurate diagnosis coding is critical—not only for compliance but also for ensuring agencies receive appropriate reimbursement. Even experienced coders sometimes miss nuances that can impact revenue. Being mindful of these commonly overlooked areas can help capture the full clinical picture and optimize… Read More »Common Coding Mistakes That Can Affect Reimbursements
