Overview
Even though Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) has been in use for a while, the 21st Century CURES Act mandated the use of EVV for Medicaid providers. The Cures Act initially required states to implement an EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) system by January 1, 2021, for Medicaid-funded Personal Care Services (PCS) and by January 1, 2023, for Home Health Care Services (HHCS) that require in-home visit by a provider. Many states received exemptions and deferred implementation of EVV for a year or two. As of January 1, 2023, nearly 80% of the states require EVV for Personal Care Services. Quite a few states also require EVV for Home Health Care Services (Skilled).
As of January 1, 2024, 80% of states have fully implemented EVV solutions for Personal Care Services. Quite a few states also require EVV for Skilled Home Health Care Services. Home Care Agencies providing Home and Community-Based Services face many challenges in implementing EVV solutions to meet CURES Act requirements.
Home Care Agencies should take a holistic approach in finding the right Home Care Software partner to implement EVV rather the settling for the solutions provided by the state or managed care providers. Taking an integrated approach will improve operational efficiency and the agency's bottom line.
This blog will review the key factors Home Care Agencies should consider in selecting the right home care software to implement EVV in their agencies.
EVV Challenges for Home Care Agencies
One of the main challenges for home care agencies is deciding whether to use state-provided EVV solutions instead of incorporating EVV requirements in their Home Care Software. Using the state-provided software for EVV and other software for agency operations will have unintended consequences for home care agencies.
01. Multiple EVV Software: Some states have more than one managed care payer. Each payer may require agencies to use a different EVV provider. Home Care Agencies with operations in multiple states must use different EVV solutions for each state.
02. Duplication of Efforts: Using multiple software to manage EVV and agency operations will lead to duplication of efforts and data entry errors. Multiple EVV solutions will also require training employees in each platform leading to increased costs, errors, and employee dissatisfaction.
03. Information Silos: Using multiple solutions to meet all EVV requirements will also lead to silos of clinical and financial information, making it very difficult to manage operations efficiently.
Even though using the free EVV software option is tempting, home care agencies should consider the overall effects of using one software for EVV and another for their agency operations.
Essential Features for Electronic Visit Verification Home Care Software
Home Care agencies should take a holistic view of their needs for a software platform rather than just focusing on their EVV needs. Using an integrated Home Care Software platform to meet a home care agency’s requirement, including EVV, will significantly improve operational efficiency and the bottom line. The following are some of the critical features the agencies should consider.
The following are some key considerations for home care agencies to implement EVV.
01. Configurable Framework
The software platform should have the framework to accommodate the EVV requirements, such as services for EVV, data submission format, etc., of different payers and states. The software should also interface with all EVV Aggregators for states or managed care payers under one framework. Using ONE software to meet all the EVV requirements will improve the agency's operational efficiency and bottom line. Using ONE software will also maintain the continuity of operations when payers and aggregators change.
02. Integrated Workflow
The most efficient way to implement EVV is to use an integrated Home Care Software Platform that makes EVV part of the regular workflow. Collecting and submitting EVV data should be part of the standard workflow without asking employees (or caregivers) to go through additional steps.
03. Multiple EVV Options
An effective EVV software solution should be able to support various options to collect EVV data.
Global Positioning Services (GPS): The GPS option uses Global Positioning Services (GPS) chips in the mobile phone to capture the exact location where the service is provided. GPS option is the most frequently used for EVV.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR): The IVR option uses Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to capture the location. IVR option requires the caregiver or employee to check in and out using a landline or cellular device at the Patient's home.
Fixed Visit Verification (FVV): FVV option uses a small, selected device stored at the Patient's home to verify the location where the services were provided. Caregivers will press a key to get a code (usually six digits) at the start and end of the visit. Codes will contain the location and time for the beginning and end of the shift. The FVV option may be used where connectivity and landline are unavailable to verify the location.
04. Proactive Validations
Home Care Software should be able to proactively check EVV records for errors before sending them to the aggregators, improving the accuracy of EVV records. Ensuring EVV records are in place with the state before submitting claims will reduce claim denials and improve reimbursement time and cash flow.
05. ONE Software ONE Patient
An integrated home care software for EVV and agency management will keep all clinical, financial, scheduling, and EVV information in one place under ONE Patient. Integrated software will also make managing payers or any other changes efficient, improving the cash flow for the agency.
06. Beyond EVV
The Home Care Software platform should support all Home-Based Services, such as Private Duty Nursing, Non-Medical, HCBS, and Home Health, and meet EVV requirements. Integrated software that can accommodate multiple payers, aggregators, and services will provide flexibility and help agencies grow.
Conclusion
Home Care Agencies should look for a Home Care Software platform that makes EVV part of the regular workflow, support one or more lines of home care services under ONE Patient, interfaces with multiple state EVV aggregators and integrate billing with EVV. The right software will significantly improve operational efficiency and the bottom line for home care agencies.
ABOUT CAREVOYANT
CareVoyant is a leading provider of cloud-based integrated enterprise-scale home health care software that can support all home-based services under ONE Software, ONE Patient, and ONE Employee, making it a Single System of Record. We support all home based services, including Home Care, Private Duty Nursing, Private Duty Non-Medical, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Home Health, Pediatric Home Care, and Outpatient Therapy at Home.
CareVoyant functions – Intake, Authorization Management, Scheduling, Clinical with Mobile options, eMAR/eTAR, Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), Billing/AR, Secure Messaging, Notification, Reporting, and Dashboards – streamline workflow, meet regulatory requirements, improve quality of care, optimize reimbursement, improve operational efficiency and agency bottom line.
For more information, please visit CareVoyant.com or call us at 1-888-463-6797.
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