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Now\u2019s the time for clinicians to polish their general OASIS coding skills.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n With the OASIS-D changes bearing down on home health agencies, providers are ready to take action \u2014 but there\u2019s not a lot to do before Medicare issues the final version of the assessment tool.<\/p>\n However:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>While waiting for the final OASIS-D form and instructions, you can also work on clinicians general assessment practices. Make sure staff members\u2019 current OASIS scoring is accurate, then build on that for the new items, suggests consultant\u00a0Anita Werner\u00a0<\/strong>with\u00a0Fazzi Associates\u00a0<\/strong>in Northampton, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n For example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Review your policy for allowing clinicians to use dashes. In the OASIS-C2 Guidance Manual effective in January 2017, for GG0170C CMS says \u201cIf no information is available or assessment is not possible for reason other than above, enter a dash (\u2018\u2013\u2018) for 1-SOC\/ROC Performance.\u201d But you\u2019ll want your staff to use dashes only when absolutely necessary, Werner notes.<\/p>\n Remember:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>While \u201ca dash (\u2013) value is a valid response for this item \u2026 a dash (\u2013) value indicates that no information is available, and\/or an item could not be assessed. This most often occurs when the patient is unexpectedly transferred, discharged or dies before assessment of the item could be completed. CMS expects dash use to be a rare occurrence,\u201d the manual says.<\/p>\n Clinicians may be tempted to use the dash for the physical activities they aren\u2019t used to assessing in such detail and intensity. Werner urges agencies to review with them when it is OK \u2014 and not OK \u2014to use dashes for the GG items, as well as throughout the assessment tool.<\/p>\n Source- SuperCoder<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"