By Sue Schettle, ARRM CEO
ARRM staff members have been getting a few questions about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) so we thought we’d provide an update on where things stand.
First, mark your calendar for an upcoming “Dial-In with DHS” that will focus on all-things EVV. Natasha Merz from DHS will be our presenter. The ARRM members-only webinar will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 11. Watch for the login information in our Weekly Briefs and newsletters. The webinar will also be recorded so you can watch it at a later time.
What EVV collects
Going into planning for the implementation of EVV, it’s important to note the information sought by regulators so you can assess the effectiveness of any potential system.
What information must the EVV system collect?
- Type of service performed
- Who received the service
- Date of service
- Location of service delivery
- Who provided the service
- When the service begins and ends
Who will be required to implement EVV
Not all services are going to be required to use EVV. Providers should review the list of personal care services and home health services to understand whether their business is affected. I’ve listed the services below.
In Minnesota, the personal care services that will be required to use EVV are:
- CDCS direct support
- Crisis respite (in-home)
- Extended personal care assistance
- Homemaker-assistance with personal cares
- Independent community living support (in-person)
- In-home family support
- Personal care assistance
- Personal support
- Respite care services (in-home)
- Individual home support (in-person)
In Minnesota, the home health services that will be required to use EVV are:
- Home health aide
- Skilled nurse visits
- In-home occupational therapy
- In-home physical therapy
- In-home respiratory therapy
- In-home speech and language therapy
Minnesota is not expanding the services that are required to use EVV from “personal care services” and “home health services,” however, there are a number of waiver services that meet the CMS definition of “personal care services” that are required to use EVV.
If DHS added additional services that are subject to EVV, DHS will communicate these changes via eList and website updates.
Timing and status in Minnesota
The national EVV implementation date is January 1, 2020, but the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has reported to ARRM it will be asking for a “Good Faith Delay” which could delay implementation of EVV here for 6-12 months, if approved.
One of the reasons DHS is asking for the delay is that it has not yet set up the exact state requirements for EVV, nor selected the state-provided EVV system. The department has selected to utilize a hybrid EVV model, meaning providers may use either the state-provided EVV system, or an alternative system of their choosing that meets state requirements. With the hybrid model, providers may select an EVV system that works best for their business but also maintains accountability to the state by submitting data to an aggregator.
Implementation
DHS expects to implement EVV after a state-selected verification system is made available to providers. The department states is will provide ample notice via email, provider communications and updates to the DHS EVV webpage, well before the deadline for providers to implement EVV (ARRM will also assist in sharing these notifications). DHS will select an EVV vendor through a request for proposals, although has not yet published the RFP.
Additionally, new 2019 legislative changes supported by ARRM ensure that providers will be reimbursed the full rate for services even if Minnesota is subject to a federal financial penalty related to the timing of EVV implementation.
To ensure you receive important updates on implementation, please sign up for the eList service on the DHS webpage for EVV.