D0160 — Total Severity Score
Response options, how to score it, and the error that most often sends the record back. Cited to Ch. 3, Item D0160.
How to score it
Sum the Column 2 (Symptom Frequency) scores from D0150. If both D0150A1 and D0150B1 (the PHQ-2 stems) are coded 9 (no response), the PHQ interview ends there and D0160 is skipped entirely — leave it blank. If only the PHQ-2 was completed because both D0150A2/B2 scored 0 or 1, the total is just those two values. If the full PHQ-9 was given and the patient answered at least 7 of the 9 frequency items, sum all nine Column-2 values (range 00-27). If 3 or more Column-2 items are missing or dashed, code 99. Dash is not a valid response for D0160 itself.
The common error
Calculating the running total while still interviewing the patient instead of afterward — CMS instructs the assessor to focus full attention on the interview, not the arithmetic, while it's happening. Also common: leaving D0160 blank instead of coding 99 when 3+ items are missing, or treating 'PHQ-9 was administered' as equivalent to 'at least 7 of 9 items were actually answered' when applying the full-sum rule.
Source: OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual — Ch. 3, Item D0160. Verified 2026-04-26.
Nearby Section D items
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