CMS is finalizing its proposal that regardless of when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, HHAs will begin use of the OASIS-E instrument effective January 1, 2023. Implementation of OASIS-E will allow the data collection necessary for the Transfer of Health Information to Provider measure and the Transfer of Health Information to Patient measure. The OASIS-E instrument also includes new standardized patient assessment data elements required by the IMPACT Act. The Drug Education on All Medications Provided to the Patient/Caregiver measure, along with the associated OASIS item M2016 – Patient/Caregiver Drug Education Intervention are finalized for removal from OASIS and retirement from the HHQRP.
Two claims-based measures (Acute Care Hospitalization During the First 60 Days of Home Health, and Emergency Department Use without Hospitalization During the First 60 Days of Home Health) are being replaced with the Home Health Within Stay Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH) measure.
The home health CoPs are being updated to allow an occupational therapist to conduct the initial assessment visit and the SOC Comprehensive Assessment for Medicare therapy-only cases, when OT is on the home health plan of care with physical therapy and/or speech therapy, and skilled nursing services are not initially ordered.
The final rule updated the functional points and functional impairment levels utilized in the PDGM model.
CMS finalized ending the original HHVBP model one year early and expands the model to include all HHAs nationwide. The rule refers to CY 2022 as the pre-implementation year, during which CMS will provide resources and training to support HHAs in understanding the model. The first performance year of the expanded HHVBP Model will be CY 2023, with quality performance data from that year used to calculate Medicare FFS payment adjustments in CY 2025.
For more details download the final rule from the Federal Register at: