CMS in its latest quarterly OASIS Q&As provided agencies with additional guidance about how to respond to GG items capturing information on prior device use, self-care and mobility.
Questions 28 through 36 of the October 2019 Q&As deal with these items, which were added to the OASIS this year.
In Question 35, one agency asked how to code GG0170J (Mobility, Walk 50 feet with two turns) if the patient cannot walk 50 feet without a rest break.
In its response, CMS states: “The patient may take a brief standing rest break (e.g., ‘a breather’) during the walking activities and continue on to complete the walking distance.”
CMS goes on to say that if the patient needs to sit to rest during the walking activity, the clinician should consider the patient “unable to complete that walking activity.”
Related link: Find more guidance on responding to GG items in the October release of quarterly Q&As at http://bit.ly/2pUPnFx.