Simplifying the Complex

HHS Proposes One-Year Delay for ICD-10

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:56:00 GMT

By Sparkle Sparks, PT, MPT, COS-C
AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM Coding Instructor
Senior Associate Consultant, OASIS Answers, Inc.

As previously hinted, the Department of Health and Human Services today announced a proposed rule which would delay the implementation of ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014. In keeping with CMS's message that "it's closer than it seems" OAI will continue to offer our "Prep for ICD-10" workshop to provide a preview of the new codeset and allow coders to become familiar with the similarities & differences of ICD-10. In 2014 we will offer both beginning & intermediate workshops to teach coders how to assign these new codes. This educational strategy is in alignment with the World Health Organization's observation that as each country readied itself for this monumental transition the more prep work that went into this process the smoother the transition. In several transmittals CMS has warned that training for the actual assignment of these codes should not occur until "six to nine months prior to the implementation of the new codeset."

Click here to read the official announcement posted on CMS' website.

The New 'INSTANTS' Are Here!

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:47:00 GMT

By Linda Krulish, PT MHS COS-C
President, OASIS Answers Inc.

The 2012 edition of everyone’s favorite “Little Brown Book” is in!

All prepublication orders for INSTANT OASIS Answers 2012 have been shipped, and should arrive at their new homes shortly.

While you’re waiting for yours to arrive…. A little info on our new baby…

How many changes are there from the 2011 edition?

This Many :)

In addition to containing the most recent OASIS-C guidance from CMS, the 2012 edition has added design and content features, most of which are enhancements that were recommended and requested from YOU, our long-time user clients…

WHAT’S NEW?

Addition of 76 new 2011 CMS OCCB Q&As
Replacement of 41 CMS Q&As with new CMS approved edits/updates
Removal of Q&As that CMS retired since the last INSTANT edition
Replacement of the old Chapter 3 guidance with the newly released updates
Redesign of the “Instant Purple Pocket” on the back cover, to better accommodate the specially sized 2012 Quarterly Q&As “Purple Pocket Pages” (available for free at the OASIS Answers website)

OASIS data use symbols (“Outcomes”, “Potentially Avoidable Events”, “Process Measures”) have been updated to reflect the current terminology, and a new feature has been added to identify OASIS items that contribute to Risk Adjustment calculations.
Enhanced PPS notations not only identify which OASIS items contribute to payment, but also the thresholds (by response option) at which the degree of potential payment impact changes. (Additional explanations of these enhancements are outlined in the book’s preface)
New design shading helps users more readily identify the actual OASIS items from the supporting guidance.
AND....users can now choose their favorite book binding method:

Choose between the easy open, page-flippin’ “Spiral/Coil Binding”
- (preferred by office clinicians for desk use)
and the compact, durable lay-flat “Perfect Binding”
- (favored by field clinicians)

Whether you are using it for in-home data collection, for auditing, education, as a reference during the open-book COS-C Exam, or just to impress your friends, we hope you enjoy your new INSTANT resource!

Please send your feedback our way!

~Linda :)

Linda.Krulish@oasisanswers.com

ICD-10 Delayed? Now What?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:59:00 GMT

By Sparkle Sparks, PT, MPT, COS-C
AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM Coding Instructor
Senior Associate Consultant, OASIS Answers, Inc.

With last week’s announcement by HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, that ICD-10 compliance will be delayed, providers are more confused than ever about what they should be doing to support ICD coding accuracy. While the government sorts this out we’d like to offer some prospective to our many home health clients & friends.

OASIS Answers offers coding training for both ICD-9 & ICD-10 and will continue doing so until the government makes some definitive decisions regarding the implementation of ICD-10. ICD-10 is still coming. Secretary Sebelius said that “HHS will initiate a process to postpone the compliance date by which certain health entities have to comply with ICD-10.” The take home message is that ICD-10 is still coming. What isn’t so clear however, is which entities the delay will apply to, and the delay timeline. Considering the current needs and future uncertainties, we’d like to recommend the following strategy for coding education for home care providers.

Ensure compliance and competence with ICD-9-CM coding. Prior to the news about the postponement of ICD-10 the most common question was, “Why should we continue with ICD-9 training when “10” is on the horizon?” The answer is simple. At the very least we still need to understand & correctly assign ICD-9 codes until 10/1/13. We are mandated by regulations to only enter accurate information in our patients’ records. Erroneous coding can have horrible unintended consequences for the patient.........click here to read the entire article.

Official HHS Announcement on Intent to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date

January 2012 CMS Quarterly Q&As Available Now!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:58:00 GMT

Today marks the release of the January 2012 CMS Quarterly Q&As, available for download:CMS Quarterly Q&As - January 2012

This quarterly update contains 10 new Q&AS containing the latest OASIS-C guidance from CMS, including instruction related to:

patients with healing and worsening pressure ulcers,
patients with orders for prn injectable medications,
how to report ambulation for patients using stair lifts, and
critical changes in CMS instructions for OASIS data collection in situations of late face-to-face encounters.

Order a CD of the January 18th Quarterly OASIS Update Teleconference where the new Q&As and other new CMS OASIS resources for 2012 are reviewed. Your CD order will include all related teleconference handout materials, including helpful Guidance Manual change sheets, prepared by the OASIS Answers' team to help you quickly educate your field staff on new Chapter 3 updates, and application scenarios with answers to test your staff and reinforce knowledge of the new January Q&A guidance.

Annual Update of CMS data collection Q&As Posted TODAY!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:09:00 GMT

As a task included in the current CMS contracted scope of work, the OASIS Answers' team conducted the 2012 annual review, update and consolidation of CMS' OASIS Q&As related to data collection. The updated files were posted TODAY and are available for download: {module_literature,c,90582}
Your OASIS Answers' Team will be presenting the Quarterly OASIS Update Teleconference TOMORROW, Wednesday - January 18th at 3:30 pm Eastern. Join as Linda Krulish and Debbie Chisholm give you the highlights of the most significant changes in CMS guidance for 2012, based on all the updated CMS guidance documents and Q&As that have been posted in the last week. Receive helpful Guidance Manual Change Sheets, prepared by the OAI team to help you quickly educate your field staff on new Chapter 3 updates that your agency data collectors must know. Receive an indepth overview of the new January Quarterly Q&As expected to be released Wednesday, along with application scenarios and answers to test your staff and reinforce compliant application of the new January Q&A guidance.

Commit to enhancing your OASIS accuracy in 2012!

CMS posts newly revised OASIS-C Guidance Manual TODAY!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:34:00 GMT

The annual revision of the OASIS-C Guidance Manual for Calendar Year 2011 has been completed. The revised manual and updated errata list were posted on the CMS site on January 10, 2012 and are available for download:
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Join the OASIS Answers' Team on our Quarterly OASIS Update Teleconference scheduled for January 18th where in addition to reviewing the newest quarterly Q&As, we will provide a valuable overview of all the new changes in the updated Guidance Manual to quickly get you up-to-speed: Quarterly OASIS Teleconference

Featured:

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:34:00 GMT

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Quarterly OASIS Update Teleconference Series

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:26:00 GMT

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Ongoing Teleconference Series providing scheduled updates on CMS guidance related to OASIS data collection.

Linda Krulish, PT MHS COS-C and Deborah Chisholm, RN BSN CPHQ COS-C from OASIS Answers, Inc provide content expertise for this update series.

Announcing: OASIS Answers, Inc. your single source...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:48:00 GMT

OASIS Answers,Inc. your single source for the most trusted OASIS training (Blueprint for OASIS Accuracy) and testing (Certificate for OASIS Specialist - Clinical (COS-C)

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