The Future of OASIS: Upcoming Changes and What They Mean for Home Health Providers

The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) has long been a critical component in home health care, providing a standardized system to assess and monitor patient outcomes. As home health care continues to evolve, so too do the regulations surrounding OASIS. Recently, there have been numerous updates and expected changes to OASIS regulations, which could significantly impact how home health agencies operate, deliver care, and interact with patients.

Understanding these changes, adapting to new standards, and preparing for their implementation is crucial for home health agencies to maintain compliance, improve patient care, and continue delivering high-quality services. In this article, we’ll discuss the key upcoming updates to OASIS regulations and provide guidance on how agencies can prepare for these changes.

What is OASIS, and Why Does it Matter?

Before delving into the upcoming changes, it’s essential to understand OASIS and its role in home health care. OASIS is a data collection tool mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for all Medicare-certified home health agencies. It is used to assess patient outcomes, determine eligibility for home health services, and measure the quality of care provided. The data gathered from OASIS assessments also plays a critical role in determining reimbursement rates and ensures that agencies meet CMS standards for quality care.

OASIS assessments are completed at multiple points during a patient’s care, typically at the start of care, resumption of care, recertification, and discharge. Each assessment is tied to a comprehensive set of questions about the patient’s health status, functional abilities, and treatment needs.

Upcoming Changes to OASIS Regulations and Standards

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) frequently updates OASIS to reflect changes in healthcare delivery, patient needs, and technological advancements. As of 2025, there are several key changes and updates to OASIS that home health providers should be aware of:

1. OASIS-E Implementation

OASIS-E is the latest iteration of the OASIS tool, and it is set to be implemented in January 2025. This new version includes several significant changes in the way that patient assessments will be conducted and reported. Some of the most notable updates in OASIS-E include:

• New Data Elements: OASIS-E will introduce several new data points aimed at improving the ability to track patient outcomes more accurately. These will include changes to the way that functional status and cognitive impairment are assessed, as well as enhanced tracking of social determinants of health (SDOH), which have been identified as critical factors influencing health outcomes.

• Improved Patient Assessment Accuracy: The updates will allow agencies to capture more granular details about patients’ functional abilities, such as self-care and mobility, which will be essential for improving quality of care and patient outcomes.

• Expanded Measures of Quality: The new data elements will allow for more comprehensive quality measurement in key areas, including pain management, fall risk, and overall functional improvement.

2. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Integration

One of the biggest shifts in healthcare is the growing emphasis on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)—the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age. CMS is now emphasizing the inclusion of social and environmental factors in patient care, and as part of the OASIS-E update, home health agencies will need to document certain social determinants of health more thoroughly.

This could include questions regarding a patient’s access to food, housing stability, social support, or transportation, all of which can impact their health outcomes. By understanding and addressing these factors, home health providers can offer more holistic care and potentially improve patient outcomes.

3. Changes in Functional Status Measurement

Functional status is a critical measure in home health care, and CMS continues to refine how it is assessed through OASIS. OASIS-E will bring additional specificity to functional status measurements by providing clearer definitions and more detailed guidance. This will require agencies to ensure their staff is fully trained on how to assess functional status in accordance with the new standards.

4. Telehealth and Remote Monitoring Updates

The use of telehealth and remote monitoring has become more prevalent, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS is continuing to evolve regulations around the use of telehealth in home health care settings. Updates to OASIS may include questions or new guidelines related to the use of telehealth for patient assessments or monitoring. Agencies that have already implemented telehealth solutions will need to ensure they’re documenting these visits properly in OASIS to comply with new regulations.

Preparing for OASIS-E: How Home Health Providers Can Adapt

The changes to OASIS regulations and standards will require home health agencies to adapt in several ways. Here are some best practices for agencies to ensure they are prepared for OASIS-E and other regulatory updates:

1. Continuous Training and Education

The implementation of OASIS-E will bring about several new requirements and changes, particularly in how agencies assess patient health and measure functional status. Home health agencies must provide continuous training to their staff, including clinicians, case managers, and administrative teams, on the new elements of OASIS-E.

Training should cover:

• Detailed instruction on how to assess and document new data elements.
• Information on the importance of social determinants of health and how they affect patient care.
• Updates on the integration of telehealth and remote patient monitoring.
• Practical application of new guidelines on functional status and cognitive impairment.

Consider utilizing online training modules, workshops, or collaboration with experienced OASIS trainers to keep your team up-to-date.

2. Invest in Technology and Data Analytics

OASIS-E will demand more precise data collection and analysis. Agencies should invest in health IT systems and data analytics platforms that support accurate OASIS documentation and reporting. This will ensure that the agency can easily capture and report the required data, leading to better patient outcomes and smoother compliance with CMS standards.

Having technology in place will also help streamline the tracking of social determinants of health, functional abilities, and telehealth usage, all of which will be critical as agencies work to meet OASIS-E requirements.

3. Focus on Patient-Centered Care

The new focus on social determinants of health means that home health agencies must adopt a more patient-centered approach to care. This involves understanding the whole patient—not just their medical conditions—and addressing factors such as access to food, housing, and support networks.

Agencies should encourage staff to take a more holistic approach to care delivery, incorporating discussions of social factors and encouraging patient engagement in their care plans. Training staff to identify and address these needs will help improve patient outcomes and ensure compliance with the new requirements.

4. Stay Informed and Engage with Industry Associations

Home health care is an ever-evolving field, and CMS regulations can change rapidly. It is essential that agencies stay informed about updates to OASIS and other CMS policies. Joining industry associations such as the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) or the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) will keep you connected to resources, networking opportunities, and updates from CMS that are critical for staying compliant.

Conclusion

The future of OASIS brings exciting opportunities for home health providers to improve the care they deliver, enhance patient outcomes, and navigate the evolving healthcare landscape. By embracing the upcoming changes, such as the OASIS-E update, integrating social determinants of health into assessments, and staying up-to-date with telehealth regulations, agencies can continue to thrive in an increasingly complex environment.

By investing in continuous training, technology, and patient-centered care practices, home health agencies can ensure that they are not only compliant with CMS standards but are also providing the highest level of care possible. The key to success in this new era of home health is adaptation, education, and a commitment to improving patient outcomes.