Medicare Fraud?

I was told the question is asking not what the pt can do or is currently doing but what is SAFE. It's all about safety

I was told the question is asking not what the pt can do or is currently doing but what is SAFE. It's all about safety

And who is best qualified to make this decision? The nurse and occupational therapist that evaluated the patient in her home? Or the administrator in the office?

Hi, I am working in HH and I love the actual work, it is the charting that drives me crazy. My supervisors keep changing my OASIS/ assesment answers to ones that just aren't true, especially in functional scores. I am guessing that the aagency gets paid more if the patient is graded as being in worse shape?

For example, a pt with chf, copd, dementia. Still walks talks, continent, bathes self. No walker, cane needed at all. My answers were downgraded to umust use bedside commode, unable to transfer self. Then OT came in and rated her independent all adls, which I would agree with. I am baffled.

That must be some pretty mild dementia if the patient is independent in all ADLS, which would mean another person isn't even needed to be anywhere on premises. And no endurance issues with CHF and COPD? So Caregiver could be at the movies while patient bathes and meal preps?

I'm independent, you're independent (assuming), your co morbid dementia patient is likely not independent but if you're willing to bet your license that you could leave the patient entirely alone without increasing any risk then perhaps they are independent. And then I would ask why are you seeing a patient who is functionally and cognitively so independent?

Sarcasm intended to get point across, not to be a jerk.

I think the point OP is making is that someone falsified her physical assessment.

My point is OP is implying fraud when there is a clear lack in her and her coworker's understanding of oasis.

If someone other than you is changing your documentation that is wrong...if they are suggesting that you downgrade some of your answers due to what can the patient safely do then that is one thing but if your supervisor is taking it upon him/her self to change Your answers then that is not right. My agency sends us an email once they audit our OASIS and makes suggestions but never changes anything for us

It is common and legal practice for the coding department to make recommendations and then the clinician either accepts or declines them. If OP's agency is truly changing her answers without her agreement then OP should leave a company with those illegal practices. OP described her reaction as baffled, that makes me think "changing my answers" may not be literal.

I can't say whether OP's patient needs more than minimal assistance but I can say for certain that clinicians' struggle with accurately understanding OASIS intent and assessment is universal and in my experience even training doesn't always provide clarity as it is counter intuitive to clinicians', nursing in particular, training and previous work experience. Therefore I am hesitant to support claims of fraud by anyone without comprehensive oasis competency.

OP, I would certainly clarify whether they are changing your documentation without consent or making recommendations. I would also question how your OT could conclude that a patient with CHF, COPD and dementia could be 100% independent in all ADLS. That is just as big of a red flag as is it limits care that the patient may require and be eligible for. I know that if a therapist assessed my cognitively impaired co-morbid parent, possibly just out of the hosptial for an exacerbation, and withheld or prevented treatment and services, I would be furious and might consider it reportable.

And to the motivation of the agency, oasis assessment is tied into PPS reimbursement but it also measures the performance outcomes for all patients regardless of payor by comparing 2 points in time, admission/resumption to discharge.

Ask for some training in how the OASIS is coded. When I worked in Home Health and got training I was really surprised at how things were scored--according to Medicare (so definitely NOT fraud). It's been several years but I do think that the score is based on what the patient can do "safely" which can change a lot of your answers.

In defense of the people who changed your scores--I was a Clinical Supervisor for awhile and did the audits and changed some scores; it's surprising how much info you can get from a patient's records and justify the changed score. However I ALWAYS explained why I was changing an answer, so the nurse would understand the rational. And if the nurse argued that her score was accurate I trusted her--she was there in "real life!"

Request the training--it's in their best interests to give it to you so you can score it more accurately AND the person auditing it doesn't have to change the score!