Q: Must we complete a transfer assessment for an inpatient observation stay of 24 hours or longer?
A: OASIS-C changed the instructions for completion of the transfer assessment. It is necessary to complete it when the patient has been admitted to an inpatient facility for 24 hours or longer. The instructions state that short-stay observation periods, regardless of the length, do not meet the definition of a transfer. Upon the patient’s return to home, no resumption-of-care assessment would be necessary. However, if the stay was related to a major change in status, it is necessary to update the assessment (RFA 5). The agency’s policy should provide guidance.
The 2010 edition of the Beacon Guide to Medicare Service Delivery is now available. Learn more about this reference publication here.
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Thu, Mar 25, 2010
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