Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is finally coming to fruition for many organizations
starting January 1, 2021. With the effective date rapidly approaching, many
agencies are still asking questions.
“States and providers are still in the thick
of EVV implementation,” says Courtney Martin, EVV expert of technology
solutions provider CellTrak, which provides home-based care solutions, including
EVV, for more than 4,000 home care agencies worldwide. “The challenge for
providers is how they can be forward thinking with respect to EVV compliance as
they prepare for 2021.”
Here’s where agencies need to be in terms of
preparing for EVV.
Does
the requirement impact my agency?
It might. The answer depends on the types of
services your agency provides.
Although the Cures Act sets the federal
guidelines for EVV adoption, states are responsible for implementation and
manage all aspects of their EVV rollout such as timelines, policy and
technology selection.
Since the mandate is administered at the state
level, the location of your agency makes a difference. For organizations that
operate in multiple states, the rules may vary state to state. Some states,
such as Ohio, will implement EVV for both personal care services and home
health at the same time, while other states will roll out EVV for personal care
services first and follow with home health later.
It’s critical for agencies delivering in-home
care services to be familiar with the requirements in each state they operate
in. There are two criteria for agencies to use when determining whether they
are affected by the mandate:
- Is the service Medicaid-funded?
- Are any of the procedure codes the
agency delivers included in the state list of EVV required services?
“Each state issues a list of Medicaid-funded services
which are covered under the EVV mandate,” Martin says. “Agencies must
understand which services are affected by reviewing at the procedure code
level.”
What do
agencies need to do now?
Providers in open states can choose the EVV
solution that works best for them, opting to implement either the
state-procured solution or a commercially available EVV solution. For providers
operating in multiple states, using a state system can be more complicated because
it would necessitate the agency to operate multiple EVV solutions to
comply.
“For agencies with offices in multiple states,
using the state system means that agencies must train their workforce on
different mobile applications, with different IT implications,” Martin says.
Providers need to develop their compliance
approach now, especially in cases where there are complexities such as
complying in multiple states, managing more than one back-end system, or
delivering multiple lines of service. Waiting until claims denial deadlines
loom will mean that providers have fewer choices for how to comply, and less
time to build a smooth implementation plan.
“Providers have a responsibility to collect
data and relay that information,” Martin says. “Even in states where full
guidance has not been provided, agencies can begin collecting EVV data now,
essentially creating a longer runway to investigate solutions, train caregivers
and adapt operationally.”
Where
can agencies learn more?
The EVV requirements will continue to evolve
based on state progress. Therefore, it’s critical for agencies to continue to
monitor updates for their individual states.
“Agencies need to understand state timelines
and participate in state calls, as well as research and understand the
technology that is available,” Martin says.
While implementation continues to evolve at
the state and provider level, this engagement will be important for agencies in
January and well beyond.
“EVV implementation won’t be complete everywhere
on January 1,” Martin says. “Think of it as an evolving process. Be proactive
now, and don’t wait until your state starts denying claims. Collect the data,
evolve your workflow and make adjustments before you’re at risk for any claims
penalty.”
To learn
more about how CellTrak can help you navigate EVV in 2021, visit CellTrak’s EVV state map to understand what is happening in your
state — and stay tuned for more on EVV at HHCN from CellTrak.
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