Long gone are the days of paper timesheets where a caregiver could simply write the date and time of a client visit, with the only verification being the client’s signature.

With the introduction of electronic visit verification (EVV), a method of verifying visits electronically to prevent fraud, waste and abuse of Medicaid services, home care organizations must adjust operations quickly in order to remain compliant.

Where Should Home Care Organizations Start?

The 21st Century Cures Act leaves it open for states to design and implement their own EVV systems. These systems typically fall into one of two categories:

• Closed Model: The state chooses and implements a single EVV vendor that home care providers are required to use.
• Open Model: Providers are free to choose their own EVV solution, as long as the solution is certified to meet certain requirements.

Home care providers should first research which model their state has chosen.

States that have not yet complied with the EVV requirement, or have yet to adopt an EVV system, will see a decrease in federal funding every year until in compliance.

What Are the EVV Requirements?

Under the 21st Century Cures Act, EVV systems must verify, at a minimum, the following six data elements:

• The type of service being performed
• The individual receiving the service
• The date of service
• The location of the service delivered
• The individual providing the service
• The time the service begins and ends

Providers operating in states with an open model should select an intuitive home care software that collects and verifies these data elements.

Other EVV Features to Consider in a Home Care Software

For providers in open model states, selecting a home care software with EVV features built in allows shift verification at the point of care. Some helpful software features available on the market will enable caregivers and organizations to:

• Capture client signatures or voice recordings at the point of care
• Document the exact date, time and location of the visit
• Access client care plans in real time
• Communicate through a HIPAA-compliant messaging system
• Work offline without an internet connection
• Schedule and track pending, submitted and upcoming visits remotely from anywhere

While the use of technology in visit verification is currently only required for Medicaid personal care services, this is the home care industry’s first step toward embracing technology at a regulatory level, and it surely will not be the last.

Follow Axxess on LinkedIn and watch this LinkedIn Live for more help with step-by-step instructions on adjusting operations for home care success with EVV.

Axxess Home Care is a HIPAA-compliant home care software for medical, non-medical and pediatric home care services. Axxess provides an updated list of EVV aggregators listed by state, connecting home care providers to their state’s Medicaid website.