Welcome to home healthcare! If it feels like your colleagues are using unfamiliar language and terms related to OASIS, OASIS Answers is here to help you build your knowledge and start feeling more at home.
This guide explains what OASIS is, how it is used in home health care, and which OASIS training and resources can help you get started.
OASIS, or the Outcome and Assessment Information Set, is a standardized set of data elements that home health agencies integrate into the comprehensive patient assessment. OASIS data is collected and reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to support quality measurement, payment, and other home health care initiatives.
For patients beginning care on or after July 1, 2025, OASIS data collection and submission requirements apply across all payers unless the patient meets a CMS exemption. Exemptions include patients under age 18, patients receiving maternity services, and patients receiving only personal care, housekeeping, or chore services.
OASIS-E2 is the current version of the OASIS data set and became effective April 1, 2026.
Becoming comfortable with OASIS takes time, practice, and access to reliable CMS guidance. Here are five ways to begin building your OASIS knowledge:
Chapter 1 of the CMS OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual introduces the background, purpose, and basic principles of OASIS. It is the best place to begin if you are new to OASIS data collection.
OnRamp to OASIS is a three-hour, on-demand introductory training designed to support the OASIS orientation process. It introduces foundational OASIS concepts, explains how OASIS data is used, and identifies the key CMS resources clinicians should understand before moving into more in-depth training.
The program also includes application scenarios and rationale to help reinforce key concepts and build early confidence.
Chapter 3 of the OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual provides item-by-item coding instructions for home health assessing clinicians. CMS OASIS Q&As offer additional guidance for applying those instructions in more nuanced situations.
Together, these resources can help you understand both the coding instructions and how they apply to real patient scenarios.
OASIS guidance continues to evolve. CMS Quarterly OASIS Q&As provide new or refined guidance related to OASIS items and data collection.
Consider registering for the Quarterly OASIS Update from OASIS Answers to stay informed about newly released guidance and understand how it applies to your work.
Make plans to attend an upcoming Blueprint for OASIS Accuracy workshop. This comprehensive, two-day OASIS training gives you the opportunity to ask questions, learn alongside experienced home health professionals, and further develop your OASIS knowledge and data collection skills.
Blueprint for OASIS Accuracy can also serve as a preparatory review for clinicians planning to take the COS-C Exam.
OASIS Answers offers training and reference materials for clinicians who are new to OASIS, experienced professionals who want to stay current, and agencies seeking education for their teams.
This three-hour, on-demand introductory training provides a practical starting point for clinicians who are new to home health, new to OASIS, or beginning to collect or audit OASIS data.
Blueprint for OASIS Accuracy offers comprehensive, up-to-date OASIS training in an immersive and engaging environment. Workshops are available for individual learners, and private training is available for home health agencies seeking education for their staff.
The Quarterly OASIS Update helps home health professionals remain current with new and revised guidance published through CMS Quarterly OASIS Q&As.
The 2026 INSTANT OASIS Answers Book is a user-friendly reference containing official CMS guidance organized by OASIS item. Updated for OASIS-E2, it includes guidance from the 2026 OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual and available OASIS Q&As, along with item-use icons and color-coded sections for quick reference.
Whether you are new to home health care, learning OASIS-E2, or preparing for the COS-C Exam, OASIS Answers offers training and resources to help you improve data collection accuracy and confidently apply current CMS guidance.
Explore our OASIS training and resources to find the right next step for you or your home health agency.
Follow OASIS Answers on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or sign up for our email list to keep on top of new CMS information related to HHVBP and OASIS accuracy.
by Megan Bernier, MSPT RAC-CT CHS-C COS-C On August 20th, ...
by Megan Bernier, MSPT RAC-CT CHS-C COS-C How to Prepare ...
by Lori Marmon, PT, MBA CHS-C COS-C The Final July ...
by Lori A Marmon, MBA, PT, CHS-C, COS-C A common ...
by Kerry Termine, DPT, HCS-D, COS-C, CHS-C CMS Clarifies HOPE ...
by Megan Bernier, MSPT RAC-CT CHS-C COS-C HOPE in Action ...
