The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed our partners at the National Alliance for Care at Home that it will retract its recent guidance regarding Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data collection for patients receiving outpatient therapy services — physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), or speech-language pathology (SLP) — through a home health agency.

CMS clarified that OASIS completion is not required for PT, OT, or SLP outpatient services billed under the Medicare Part B benefit when a home health plan of care is not in effect. This clarification resolves widespread confusion created by earlier instructions that implied otherwise and raised significant concern among providers.

To ensure accuracy and consistency moving forward, CMS will revise the latest OASIS Quarterly Q&A document to reflect the corrected guidance. The updated language will offer clearer direction on how payer data should be collected in relation to outpatient therapy services provided by agencies.

This decision represents a significant win for home health providers, reducing unnecessary administrative burden and ensuring that OASIS data collection requirements are applied appropriately. The Alliance has confirmed it will continue monitoring CMS’s updates and will provide additional details as they become available.