The Electronic Visit Verification™ Mandate – as outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act – has created a great deal of concern and more than a little uncertainty for many within the home healthcare industry.
There are four primary – and possible more – ways that state Medicaid agencies can implement their EVV programs.
There are four basic models from which to choose:
- Provider Choice: The state instructs home care agencies to choose, and pay for, any EVV software solution of their choice.
- State Choice: The state purchases an EVV solution to be used by all agencies.
- MCO Choice: The state mandates that each MCO choose an EVV solution that is used by their providers.
- Open Hybrid Model: The State selects an EVV solution, while allowing providers and MCOs to keep their existing system, or to choose a system that best suits their operation. The states establish the technology requirements and configuration, rules, and policies regarding the program to monitor for compliance and billing.
While there may be a desire to hold off any EVV planning until the state in which you operate decides which model they’ll use, the planning process should begin now. The process can include:
- Researching EVV software providers, and determining which ones have the most experience and expertise in EVV solutions;
- Analyzing the different methods that home care workers in the field can perform their EVV “check-ins” and determining which ones are most appropriate;
- Auditing the information technology within the agency, and determining how EVV software will integrate into the current environment;
- Examining any agency management software within the agency and determining if the EVV implementation provides an opportunity to upgrade and better integrate the agency’s overall technology set-up.
EVV can be viewed simply as another regulatory requirement, but we believe there’s a positive perspective: It helps improve operational efficiencies and lower costs by ensuring visits are compliant, billings are accurate, services are documented, and better communication between office and field.
Our Electronic Visit Verification™ solution has improved overall management and performance at home care and I/DD agencies throughout the United States. It captures all the necessary information required by the 21st Century Cures Act, including date and time of the in-home visit, the tasks that were preformed, which caregiver provided care to the patient, and the exact location of service, along with other “checks and balances.” There are a number of different verification methods:
- Telephonic Visit Verification™: Automatic Number Identification technology validating telephone calls to log in and log out, and records tasks, time, and location of visit in real-time.
- Mobile Visit Verification™: Real-time GPS technology, verifying caregiver location and visits via GPS enabled devices.
- Fixed Visit Verification™: Patented technology verifying visits when no landline or cellular service is available.
Sandata was in the EVV business long before EVV was a mandate, and our team is available to answer questions and provide advice about how to best review and make a decision about how EVV will be implemented at your agency.
