What is Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)?
Medicaid-funded home care providers and agencies are required under the 21st Century Cures Act to follow state requirements for Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). States across the country are still finalizing these EVV requirements, so preparing for compliance is important.
Having the right technology in place is the easiest way to stay compliant. In fact, a comprehensive EVV system not only helps improve compliance, but simplifies processes for billing, payroll, and reporting.
How does Electronic Visit Verification work?
Electronic Visit Verification works by validating the “date, time, location, type of personal care or home health care services provided, and individual(s) providing and receiving services.” (source)
EVV systems can help improve the quality of these services and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
What are EVV requirements?
According to medicaid.gov (pdf), each state is required to implement an EVV system for personal care services (PCS) and Home Health Care Services (HHCS) under the 21st Century Cures Act. States that fail to do so by the required deadline will be “subject to incremental reductions in FMAP up to 1 percent,” although states “can submit a request for good faith effort exemption.”
- The deadline to implement an EVV system for personal care services was January 1, 2020.
- The deadline to implement an EVV system for home health care services is January 1, 2023.
This law also applies to services that include PCS or HHCS.
Is EVV required for Medicare?
No, EVV is not required for Medicare. EVV is required for Medicaid-funded personal care services and home health services.
What is an EVV system for home care? How can it be used?
An EVV system verifies various aspects of a home care visit for more transparency and accountability. This technology is required at the state level for Medicaid-funded home care providers
Meeting state billing requirements
Medicaid-funded home care providers and agencies need to gather and submit various data points to the state(s) where they operate in compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act.
Generations Homecare System, for example, has an EVV solution that directly interfaces with state-mandated Medicaid billing systems. This allows users to easily and securely export and share accurate EVV data with your state’s aggregator(s).
Simple and accurate payroll
A robust EVV system can also be leveraged by home care agencies to provide better care and streamline internal processes like payroll. Unlike time-intensive manual processes that are prone to error, technology like Generations provides a comprehensive overview of all ongoing care, so schedulers have a global view of the delivery of care in real-time. And because arrivals and departures of caregivers are confirmed in real-time via a mobile app, the need for paper timesheets is eliminated.
Greater transparency for improved client outcomes
This real-time verification is also useful in providing greater transparency into the work caregivers do. Features like task management and missed visit alerts help improve care outcomes by holding caregivers accountable and on track. It also allows office staff to quickly arrange replacements and adapt to changing schedules to make sure there are no gaps in care.
Securing patient information
Paper documentation can take longer to complete and be easily misplaced or accessed by an unauthorized party. Our EVV system allows caregivers to securely document client conditions and collect electronic signatures from caregivers and clients to make sure tasks have been completed.
Meet state requirements and simplify your home care operations
Unsure how to meet EVV requirements for your state? Learn more about EVV software here or contact our experts today.
Watch the video below to learn more about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).
