Revision of Standard
Survey Definitions for Home Health Agencies
PDF Version
of BQA 00-070 (PDF, 11 KB)
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Date: October 16, 2000 DSL-BQA-00-070
To: Home Health Agencies HHA 29
From: Otis Woods, Chief, Health Services Section
Via: Sue Schroeder, Director, Bureau of Quality Assurance
The Bureau of Quality Assurance (BQA) received the attached Electronic
Regional Program Letter (ERPL) #2000-22 [below] from the federal Health Care
Financing Administration, Division of Survey and Certification,
Chicago Regional Office. The letter explains the federal Health Care Finance
Administration’s revisions of the definition of the standard certification survey for
home health agencies. The ERPL #2000-22 references two attachments (OASISMEMO
(PDF, 8 KB)
and HHAGUIDE
(PDF, 232 KB). However, only a copy of EPRL #2000-22 is being sent with this
memorandum. Copies of the two attachments are available on the BQA website at:
http://www.dhs.state.wi.us/rl_DSL/HHAs/HHAnodMemos.htm
The document titled OASISMEMO is an April 18, 2000 HCFA cover memo to the draft
Appendix B, Interpretive Guidelines for home health agencies. The document titled HHAGUIDE
is an informational draft of Appendix B, Interpretive Guidelines incorporating the OASIS
regulations. This draft is currently under review for final clearance and publication. We
will notify all home health agencies when this information is published as final.
Please direct any questions you may have regarding OASIS data collection to Andrea
Henrich, OASIS Education Coordinator, at (608) 267-3807 or Barbara Woodford, Nurse
Consultant, at (715) 855-7310 (replaced by Marianne Missfeldt, (715)
836-4036). Questions related to automation may be directed to Chris
Benesh, OASIS Automation Coordinator, at (608) 266-1718 or to Cindy Symons, OASIS
Technical Analyst, at (608) 266-9675 [no longer available, contact Chris
Benesh]. Questions related to onsite monitoring issues should
be directed to Jane Walters, Supervisor Northern Unit, at (608) 267-7389 (replaced
by Jan Heimbruch, (608) 243-2086), or to Juan
Flores, Supervisor Southern Unit, (608) 261-7824 (replaced by Cremear
Mims, (414) 227-4556).
HEALTH CARE FINANCING ADMINISTRATION
Chicago Regional Office, Midwest Consortium
Electronic Regional Program Letter #2000-22
DATE: August 4, 2000
FROM: HCFA, Chicago Regional Office, Division of Survey and Certification
SUBJECT: Revision of Standard Survey Definition for HHAs - ACTION
TO: State Survey Agency Directors
The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you that HCFA is changing the definition of
the Medicare standard survey for home health agencies (HHAs) to include a review of the
HHA’s compliance with the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) regulations
that were published in final on January 25, 1999.
Section 1891(c)(2)(C)(i)(II) of the Act requires that the standard survey include
"a survey of the quality of care and services furnished by the agency as measured by
indicators of medical, nursing, and rehabilitative care." Therefore, it is essential
that the surveyor review the HHA’s compliance with the new comprehensive assessment
regulation (which incorporates the OASIS data elements) as well as identify how the HHA
defines, plans for, delivers and measures anticipated outcomes for patients. The OASIS
educational coordinators will continue to check for compliance with the OASIS data
transmission regulation (which requires electronic submission of OASIS information to the
State) and report any concerns to the State agency surveyors. Effective immediately, the
standard survey will consist of a review of the following regulations:
-
Patient rights (42 CFR 484.10);
-
Release of Patient Identifiable OASIS Information (42 CFR 484.11);
-
Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, the disclosure of ownership and
management information, and accepted professional standards and principles (42 CFR
484.12);
-
Coordination of patient services (42 CFR 484.14(g));
-
Acceptance of patients, plan of care, and medical supervision (42 CFR 484.18);
-
Home health aide services (42 CFR Part 484.36);
-
Clinical records (42 CFR 484.48); and
-
Comprehensive assessment of patients (42 CFR 484.55)
Surveyors may use the working draft of the home health guidelines provided as part of a
memo dated April 18, 2000, to assist them with conducting the standard survey, until the
guidelines are published in final. A copy of the memo
(PDF, 8 KB) and guidelines (PDF,
232 KB) are attached.
If you have any questions about these instructions, please contact your Branch Manager
or the Principal Program Representative for your State.
/s/ Charles Bennett, Branch Manager, Survey and Certification Program, Coordination and
Improvement
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