--- title: Best Practices for Completing M1400 OASIS Dyspnea description: Include the following evidence-based clinical practices for M1400 OASIS Dyspnea. image: https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hubfs/pursed-lip-breathing.jpg --- [![PowerPath.ai](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png?width=2000&height=256&name=Power-Path-copy.ai_-2048x263.png "PowerPath.ai")](https://powerpath.ai/) - [How It Works](https://powerpath.ai/how-it-works/) - [Tools for Growth](https://powerpath.ai/tools-for-growth/) - [Meet Pattii](https://powerpath.ai/meet-pattii/) - [Resources](https://powerpath.ai/resources/) - [Blog](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog) - [About](https://powerpath.ai/about/) - [Contact](https://powerpath.ai/contact/) [My Account](https://secure.myhomecarebiz.com/) [Get Demo](https://melissa-myhomecarebiz.youcanbook.me/) ![BlogHeaderImg](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogHeaderImg.png?width=2000&height=666&name=BlogHeaderImg.png "BlogHeaderImg") # Home Health Insights Stay informed with the latest news in home health. ## Browse by Topic - [Regulatory News for Home Health & Hospice (173)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/regulatory-news-for-home-health-hospice) - [Clinical Best Practices for Home Health & Hospice (22)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/clinical-best-practices-for-home-health-hospice) - [Home Health Billing & Coding (21)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/home-health-billing-coding) - [Home Health Marketing (18)](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/topic/home-health-marketing) ## Best Practices for Completing M1400 OASIS Dyspnea Best Practices for Completing M1400 OASIS Dyspnea Posted by Melissa Cott on May 26, 2022 # Best Practices for Completing M1400 OASIS Dyspnea Posted by [Melissa Cott](https://go.myhomecarebiz.com/blog/author/melissa-cott) on May 26, 2022 Include the following best practice (Medicare) guidelines for completing OASIS M1400 Shortness of Breath: ### (M1400) When is the patient dyspneic or noticeably Short of Breath? Identifies the level of exertion/activity that results in a patient’s dyspnea or shortness of breath. - 0 - Patient is not short of breath - 1 - When walking more than 20 feet, climbing stairs - 2 - With moderate exertion (e.g., while dressing, using commode or bedpan, walking distances less than 20 feet) - 3 - With minimal exertion (e.g., while eating, talking, or performing other ADLs) or with agitation - 4 - At rest (during day or night) [![Download Teaching Sheet for Diaphragmatic & Pursed-Lipped Breathing](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/375308/094c545a-1acd-4ca2-b4cd-695e594903b4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/375308/094c545a-1acd-4ca2-b4cd-695e594903b4) ### A 'better' way to ask the M1400 question... Instead of asking...'When is the patient dyspneic or noticeably **Short of Breath**?', a better way to determine the patient's dyspnea level with the correct intent, M1400 OASIS guidance recommends **'When is the patient short of breath? (assess SOB when using O2 if used continuously or wit****hout O2 if not used continuously)'** ### Best Practice Assessment Strategies for M1400 - If the patient uses oxygen continuously, **select the response based on assessment of the patient’s shortness of breath while using oxygen.** - If the patient uses oxygen intermittently, **mark the response based on the patient’s shortness of breath WITHOUT the use of oxygen.** - **The response is based on the patient’s actual use of oxygen in the home, not on the physician’s oxygen order.** - The responses represent increasing severity of shortness of breath. - For a chairfast or bedbound patient, evaluate the level of exertion required to produce shortness of breath. - The chairfast patient can be assessed for level of dyspnea while performing ADLs or at rest. Response 0 would apply if the patient has not been short of breath during the day of assessment. Response 1 would be appropriate if demanding bed-mobility activities produce dyspnea in the bedbound patient (or physically demanding transfer activities produce dyspnea in the chairfast patient). See Responses 2, 3, and 4 for assessment examples for these patients as well as ambulatory patients. 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