Fall can be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, but unfortunately it marks the beginning of influenza (flu) season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an early start for administering the flu vaccine due to outbreaks which can begin
as early as September. Every year the flu can wreak havoc with millions of people getting sick, hundreds of thousands hospitalized, and thousands who die from the flu. However, this is all generally preventable by a flu vaccine and impacts your agency’s star rating.[1]
As the caregiver for your patients, it is important to encourage and educate them of the benefits to receive the flu vaccine and its ability to reduce flu related illnesses and hospitalizations, especially for those who are immunocompromised or suffer from chronic diseases. To ensure caregivers are in the know as to whether or not their patients have access to the flu vaccine, the OASIS M1046 requests information regarding if and where the patient has received the influenza vaccine and if not, the reason for why.
To emphasize the importance of patients not being overlooked and having access to the flu vaccine, the collection of this data directly impacts the agency’s star ratings and the calculation for Value-Based Purchasing payments. It is important to note, OASIS M1046 does not require the caregiver to actually administer the vaccine in order to receive credit, but should the patient not have access to the flu vaccine your agency must be diligent in either making arrangements to administer or arrange administration of the flu vaccine from another source. If the patient refuses, caregivers must document this and all attempts to educate the patient of the benefits of the flu vaccine. If the vaccine is refused due to allergies or contraindications, include the reasons in the documentation.
These regulations only apply to patients with a home health episode (SOC/ROC to Transfer/Discharge) occurring between October 1 and March 31 of the current flu season, which begins in September. If your patient has a start of care (SOC) date of July 30,2016 and your agency administers the flu vaccine September 20, 2016, then the patient is discharged on September 27, 2016, the response for M1041 would be “no” because the patient must be on service as of October 1. Due to the fact it is not recognized as flu season, this would not count against you. Conversely, if the patient came back onto service, for example, January 3, 2017 and was discharged April 28,2017, the response for M1041 would be “yes” and the September 20, 2016 flu vaccine administration would be credited at this point.
The CDC has released the 2016-17 flu guidelines and recommends a yearly flu vaccine for individuals 6 months and older between September and the end of October, if possible. (Note: For the 2016-2017 season, CDC recommends use of inactivated influenza vaccine [IIV] and the recombinant influenza vaccine [RIV], while the nasal spray flu vaccine [live attenuated influenza vaccine] should not be used this season). Additionally, individuals with mild egg allergies no longer require monitoring for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine, but if the allergy is severe it is recommended a healthcare provider administer the flu vaccine [2]. The CDC advises that patients suspected of having the flu should seek prompt treatment with influenza antiviral drugs without waiting for confirmatory testing.
The flu vaccine is an important preventative measure, especially for those with compromised immune systems or chronic illness. Home health agencies and caregivers can proactively protect their patients and stay current with the latest guidelines by appropriately documenting their care in the OASIS to ensure the organization is providing exceptional care and recognized as a five star organization.
References
[1] http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6505a1.htm?s_cid=rr6505a1_w
[2] http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
[3] OASIS Guidance Chapter 3
