OASIS User Manuals

OASIS-C Information 

OASIS-C is the updated version of the OASIS data set that must be used for all assessments of Medicare and Medicaid patients that are completed on or after January 1, 2010.

The OASIS-C Guidance manual (September, 2009) is a streamlined and updated version of the original OASIS Implementation Manual. It provides:

  • specific item-by-item information on completion of each OASIS-C item
  • general information relevant to OASIS data collection versions of OASIS-C for each OASIS data collection time point
  • sample pages of clinical record forms for OASIS data time points illustrating how the relevant OASIS items can be integrated
  • relevant resources for HHAs, with hyperlinks when available
  • information on OBQI
  • home health care regulations related to OASIS data collection, and
  • recommendations for ensuring accuracy of OASIS data.

The manual is available from the "Downloads" section below.

1/6/2012: The annual revision of the OASIS-C Guidance manual for CY2011 is completed. The revised manual and updated errata list are available under downloads below.

1/13/2011: The revised OASIS-C Guidance Manual and errata sheet posted on 1/5/2011 contain a typographical but significant error. That error is on page F-18 in the last sentence of the last RSI bullet (#9) for Item M1340. In that sentence, M1340 should read M1350.

The corrected (and updated for CY2010) manual and the corrected errata list are available from the "Downloads" section below. The single corrected page F-18 can also be printed individually from the zip file.

1/5/2011: The annual revision of the OASIS-C Guidance manual for CY2010 is completed. The revised manual and updated errata list are available under downloads below.

6/30/2010: A new errata sheet has been added to the Downloads section, indicating updates to the Guidance Manual developed since December 2009. Revisions to the Guidance Manual incorporating these and subsequent errata will be posted annually in December.

12/22/2009: The OASIS-C Guidance Manual has been updated to incorporate the errata posted on December 11, 2009. The errata posted on December 11 are in most cases either corrections of minor typos or clarifications requested by clinicians. CMS made a significant effort to respond to those questions and to share these additional clarifications with agencies prior to January 1st rather than after implementation.

12/11/2009: An errata sheet has been added to the Downloads section, indicating updates to the Guidance Manual. A revised Guidance Manual incorporating these errata will be posted shortly.

OASIS-B1 Information

OASIS-B1 is to be used for all assessments completed through December 31, 2009.

Chapter 8 - OASIS B1 Attachment D with coding guidance and examples is posted in the Downloads section below. 

ALERT: Errors have been identified which are further described at: 

http://www.cms.hhsgov/HomeHealthPPS/15_OASIS_Attachment_D_Guidance.asp 

Questions related to Attachment D should be sent to: AskOasisAttachD@cms.hhs.gov

Part I - OASIS-B1 Implementation Manual - Revised Oct 2007

CMS recommends that HHAs, state agencies, and regional offices download the October, 2007 revision of Part 1 - Implementation Manual of the OASIS User's Manual. We recommend that each new chapter be printed so agencies can be assured that their manual is complete and accurate. The manual reflects changes from the Final Regulation, effective January 1, 2008. These zip files contain the revised chapters: Chapter 2, 3, 4, 11 and Chapter 8 and appendices.

Part 2 - OASIS-B1 HHA System User's Guide Version 4.5 (December 2007)

This manual covers the data submission process for home health agencies, including how to access the state system that will be used for electronic data submission, procedures for submitting data (including corrections of previously submitted data), and interpretation of feedback reports from the state system. It is recommended that you download all revised zips files because Appendix A (CASPER Reporting Section) was removed from the manual.

OASIS-C Validation Report Messages and Description Guide (December 2009)

We have updated the HHA Error Message Guide to provide you with a manual which describes the types of reports and messages you can expect to see in response to your electronic submission of OASIS data. This guide is updated to reflect the OASIS-C (01/2010) version. This manual is based on version 2.00 data specifications, available in HAVEN 10.0. This manual is designed to help you interpret your feedback reports.

Part 3 - HAVEN System Reference Manual (October 2010)

This manual covers the use of HAVEN version 10.0 and above, which has been developed to provide home health agencies with software for data entry, editing, and validation of OASIS data. This software uses the OASIS-C Version 2.00 data specifications for all assessments of Medicare and Medicaid patients that are completed on or after January 1, 2010. This manual includes information on setting up the software, defining agency and employee information, entering patient and assessment data, and data management functions.

Note: The current version of the HAVEN software is available from the "Downloads" section below.

Wound item Guidance

Pressure Ulcer Stages Revised by NPUAP

In February 2007, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel released updated definitions of pressure ulcers and the stages of pressure ulcers, available at www.npuap.org. Effective immediately, home health agencies and clinicians may begin to utilize the 2/2007 NPUAP Pressure Ulcer Definitions and Stages in the assessment and reporting of pressure ulcers while completing the patient comprehensive assessment, and to the extent possible in reporting pressure ulcer-related OASIS items. Due to inconsistent language between the new NPUAP definitions and the current OASIS item language (e.g., a "suspected deep tissue injury" referenced in the NPUAP criteria is not currently present as a response option in the OASIS items) it will not be possible to exactly report the new pressure ulcer stages in OASIS 2008.

The updated approach to pressure ulcers is incorporated in the OASIS C instrument (see above).

CMS plans to participate and adopt recommendations made by the upcoming NQF Pressure Ulcer Framework. (See Related Links Outside CMS below.) CMS expects that the most recent instruction provided, usually in the form of released CMS Q&As, will be followed when completing the OASIS items, therefore providers are encouraged to review and follow the Q&As posted at QIES and OASIS Q&A Links outside CMS below. https://www.qtso.com/hhadownload.html.

Accurate Coding of Surgical Wounds

Based on the current advances in wound care research, CMS will follow the recently revised guidance on the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Guidance Document on "OASIS Skin and Wound Status M0 Items" (revised July 2006) regarding the lack of scientific evidence supporting the finding of the healing ridge in the assessment of surgical wounds closed by primary intention.

CMS encourages clinicians to follow the guidance suggested in the WOCN Guidance Document on "OASIS Skin and Wound Status M0 Items" (revised July 2006) in the assessment of surgical wounds, specifically in the assessment of M0488 Status of Most Problematic (Observable) Surgical Wound. This document is found at: http://www.wocn.org.

     Note:

  • The revision date of 07/2006 is found in the document's footer.
  • This policy guidance for accurate coding of surgical wounds becomes effective 07/27/2006.
  • The zip files are common WinZip files, but do require WinZip software. Using similar software other than WinZip may not open the zip files accurately.