October 27 2025
OASIS Answers
Categories: OASIS

OASIS Unplanned Discharge: Coding Guidance for D0150

by Lori A Marmon, PT, MBA, COS-C

Unplanned discharges can be challenging, both for patients and clinicians. When services end abruptly and no final visit is possible, it’s essential to know how to accurately complete the OASIS discharge assessment to maintain compliance and data integrity. Here’s what to do when an unplanned discharge occurs, including how to code patient interview items like D0150 and when it’s appropriate to use the dash (-) response.

What Is an Unplanned Discharge in OASIS?

An unplanned discharge occurs when home health services end unexpectedly and no final in-home visit can be made. When this happens, the discharge comprehensive assessment, including all OASIS data collection, must be completed by the last qualified clinician (RN, PT, OT, or SLP) who saw the patient.

This clinician can use information from their last in-person encounter and collaborate with other agency staff to supplement OASIS items using documentation from visits that occurred within the last five days of care provided by your agency.

How to Complete Patient Interview Items During an Unplanned Discharge

In unplanned discharge situations, clinicians often wonder how to complete patient interview items, such as D0150, the Patient Mood Interview (PHQ-2 to 9), when there’s no opportunity to conduct the interview.

If the clinician cannot complete the patient interview due to the unplanned discharge and there is no documentation that the interview was completed within the last five days of care, then D0150 is considered not assessed for the discharge comprehensive assessment.

When to Use a Dash (-) Response in OASIS

For some OASIS items, CMS allows the use of a dash (-) response to indicate that no information is available.

In the case of D0150, where a patient interview is required but could not be completed, the dash is the only allowable response for the item. The use of the dash should be a rare occurrence, much like an unplanned discharge itself, but it is permitted under these specific circumstances.

Other OASIS Items Requiring Patient Interviews

Several OASIS items require patient interviews for completion, some allow a dash response, while others do not.

For complete details on which items this applies to and how to handle them correctly, refer to Question 8 of the April 2025 Quarterly OASIS Q&As. These official CMS clarifications provide essential guidance to ensure your OASIS documentation remains accurate, compliant, and audit-ready, even when patient circumstances change suddenly.

Key Takeaways for Clinicians

When an unplanned discharge occurs:

Complete the OASIS discharge assessment using the most recent available documentation.
Collaborate with other clinicians who saw the patient in the last five days.
Use a dash (-) only when a required patient interview could not be completed.

Consistent adherence to this guidance supports OASIS accuracy, compliance, and quality reporting integrity, even in unexpected situations.

Stay Current on OASIS Guidance

OASIS updates and clarifications evolve frequently. Stay informed by reviewing the latest Quarterly OASIS Q&As and attending our Blueprint for OASIS Accuracy workshop – the nation’s leading training on OASIS accuracy and compliance.