What is Electronic Visit Verification?
The 21st Century Cures Act, passed in December of 2016, encouraged reform and supplementation in multiple aspects of health care practices. One component of this act is the need for all Medicaid personal and home health care providers to implement Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) by January 1, 2019. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a decrease in Federal medical assistance for those providers. The Federal EVV mandate requires affected providers to electronically verify:
The type of service performed
The member receiving the service
The date of service
The location of service delivery
The care provider responsible for the service
The time the service begins and ends
While the EVV mandate is a part of the federal 21st Century Cures Act, many states, like Louisiana, have added additional requirements for providers to follow in order to be EVV compliant.
The Louisiana Department of Health describes EVV as “a computer-based system that electronically verifies service visit occurrences and documents the precise time services begin and end via smart devices”. Louisiana has already successfully used EVV for center-based, vocational, and transportation services since 2016. In line with the 21st Century Cures Act, the state expects to implement EVV for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services by multiple deadlines, ranging from November, 13, 2017 through February 19, 2018, depending on regions. The encouraged transition date is fast approaching, making it important for all relevant health care providers to be up-to-date on how to navigate EVV requirements in the state.
Who Is Affected?
In Louisiana, Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HSBC) are
Day Habilitation Services
Prevocational Services
Center-Based Respite services
All OCDD Supported Employment Services
What Do EVV Requirements Mean for Your Business?
Your EVV implementation deadline depends on your region within the state.
| Region | EVV Go-Live Date |
| 3 | 11/13/2017 |
| 5 | 11/20/2017 |
| 6 | 12/04/2017 |
| 9 | 12/11/2017 |
| 8 | 12/18/2017 |
| 1 and 10 | 01/08/2018 |
| 2 | 01/22/2018 |
| 4 | 02/12/2018 |
| 7 | 02/19/2018 |
Providers will pay minimal personal costs for the initial implementation of an EVV system.
The state will cover all costs associated with development, implementation, and training of an EVV system. In addition, ongoing transaction costs will also be provided by the State.
Your business will be responsible for providing smart devices.
Smart devices will not be provided by the State. The Louisiana Department of Health believes “utilizing smart devices with internet access is at least cost neutral in many cases and will represent a cost saving to providers”. Some EVV solutions can be accessed through the personal phones of employees, thus eliminating the additional purchase of devices.
Providers are free to choose their EVV provider.
The Louisiana Department of Health allows providers to choose their EVV provider as long as they comply with their technical requirements. However, the SRI system is the EVV solution designated by the Louisiana Department of Health. If providers choose to use an alternate EVV vendor, the EVV system must pass a LaSRS data integration process prior to the implementation deadline.
Additional Resources
For more information on Louisiana EVV requirements,
Visit: http://www.dhh.
Email: EVVHELP@la.gov
Call: 225-342-9500
Abaqus, Inc. is a provider of a powerful platform, allGeo, an EVV solution for in-home care providers. allGeo leverages the advancements in the modern technology in the smartphones/sensors, apps, location-based services, and cellular communication to provide you with a scalable and robust in-home care workforce solution to help meet EVV requirements for Medicaid compliance.
If you have any questions or need additional information about the Electronic Visit Verification we offer, please reach us at sales@abaq.us or call us at +1 415-496-9436
