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Latest Home Health News

CMS revises OASIS-C draft based on field tests

CMS released its newly refined OASIS-C draft Nov. 19 giving agencies a closer look at what will be required, starting as soon as 2010. The 21-page revised draft incorporates feedback from CMS’s field-testing, completed this fall. Changes include revised words, new answers and in some cases, additions and deletions of OASIS questions. One common thread in the changes: CMS revised at least seven process measures to identify at discharge whether agencies followed through with patients’ intervention plans. This pertains to pressure ulcers, depression, pain, diabetic foot care, heart failure, falls risk and medication. Agencies have until Jan. 13, 2009, to comment on the new draft.

Click here for the October 2007 OASIS-C draft to compare the changes.

Comments urge delay of ICD-10 implementation

The timeline to adopt ICD-10 coding sets and their compatible electronic transaction standards is too aggressive, healthcare entities say in their comments on the proposed rules. The comment period, which ended Oct. 21, focused on burdens the health care industry can expect with ICD-10 implementation. The American Health Information Management Association supports a three-year implementation with the effective date of Oct. 1, 2012, one year after the 2011 date stated in the proposed rule. The association also urges the Department of Health and Human Services to release the final rule before the end of 2008.

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Coding Diabetes Manifestations

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Caregiver shortages may bring clouds that rain on PD’s parade

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