M0104 — Date of Referral
Response options, how to score it, and the error that most often sends the record back. Cited to Ch. 3, Item M0104.
How to score it
Enter the date the agency received the most recent/latest verbal, written, or electronic referral authorizing the start or resumption of home care. A referral counts only once the agency has enough information (name, contact info, diagnosis or general care needs) and has confirmed a physician/allowed practitioner will provide the plan of care and ongoing orders. If SOC/ROC is delayed and the agency receives an updated referral, use that later referral date instead.
The common error
Recording the date a payer authorized services (for example, when a Medicare Advantage case manager approved the visit) as the referral date. CMS is explicit that payer authorization is not a referral — M0104 is the date the agency itself received the clinical referral, a separate event from payer sign-off.
Source: OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual — Ch. 3, Item M0104. Verified 2026-04-26.
Nearby Section M items
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