Policy Trends in Outcomes and OASIS

Home health care is undergoing significant changes as a result of the Interim Payment System (IPS). Soon the collection of outcome data using the Outcomes Assessment and Information Set (OASIS) will also be required. This article describes the current policy environment in home health care and the initiatives in outcome measurement that have resulted from rapid industry growth. Persistent issues are discussed in relation to the development of an equitable prospective payment system (PPS). This article discusses the influence of the consumer movement and the lessons that can be learned from past experience in the health care industry. Finally, the importance of benchmarks is reviewed, along with the growing demand for quality measures that would allow for meaningful comparisons among providers.