Starting January 1, 2025, Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) will begin completing and transmitting OASIS data for 100% of patients, not just those with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or skilled Medicaid.
All payers will be included in outcome calculations starting July 1, 2025, Transitional time frame from January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025 - Agencies may voluntarily submit OASIS for non-Medicare patients. However, beginning July 1, 2025, submission becomes mandatory. Home health agencies must complete and transmit OASIS assessments for ALL of their patients, regardless of payer type.
Keep in mind, the outcomes for all payers will factor into Star Ratings and Value Based Purchasing quality measures.
Why the Change to ALL Payors?
· This will align home health agencies with skilled nursing facilities that already report patient data for all payor types and allows for fair comparisons between home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities.
· Provides a more accurate and fair comparison across the post-acute care continuum.
What Should Agencies Do to Prepare?
· Provide comprehensive OASIS training to all clinical staff.
· Educate field staff on the new requirement and provide training to improve documentation accuracy.
· Be sure each clinician is completing a thorough and accurate OASIS assessment for every patient, regardless of their insurance coverage or payor source.
· Focus on improving outcomes that drive quality measures and optimize PDGM case mix weight.
· Begin voluntary OASIS reporting for non-Medicare patients during the transitional period, instead of waiting for July 1st.
Consider partnering with a reputable OASIS review outsourcing company such as HRP!
This new reporting requirement isn't merely about compliance—it's an opportunity for agencies to flourish. Agencies that take proactive measures to improve their processes and results will be better positioned for future success.
The discharge function score will be calculated based on the scoring of the GG items which will drive agency outcomes and star ratings.
