If you run a home care agency then you’re probably already familiar with the federal mandate requiring electronic verification of services. Since the passing of the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016, states have been making plans for how they will implement this new rule. As of January of this year, EVV is now required for in-home personal care services — although some states have applied for an extension. In today’s blog from FOCOS Innovations, we want to help caregiver agencies and service providers by giving tips on how to make a seamless transition to EVV. Keep reading, and if you would like to learn more about our HIPAA-compliant, web-based EVV software, contact a member of our team today.

Determine Which EVV Model Your State Is Using

Before you can choose the method in which you will electronically verify your service visits, you first have to do a little homework. Start by finding out which EVV model your state is following. There are currently five different choices that involve either a state-sponsored vendor, a provider-chosen vendor, or a combination of both. You can learn more about each of the models in this guidance document from CMCS.

Confirm When You’ll Need To Complete Implementation

According to the federal mandate, EVV is required for in-home personal care services beginning January 1, 2021, and home healthcare services need to be implemented by January 1, 2023. However, these are not firm dates as many states have filed a good-faith exemption request. This request, if granted, allows for an extension on implementation providing the state shows that they have made good progress. You can find a current list of requests by state, along with approval dates. If you can’t find your state listed in this attachment it means that they haven’t filed a request. 

Select a Vendor

Many states have approved the EVV model that allows care providers to choose their own EVV vendors. If that is the case for you, consider yourself lucky. Most state-sponsored EVV systems are designed to meet the basic requirements but don’t offer much regarding additional functionality. It’s like giving someone a phone that can only be used to send and receive calls. When it comes time to choose your EVV vendor, make sure you choose one that can offer you the most. At FOCOS Innovations, we create software that not only makes it easy to stay in compliance but is also simple to use and designed with your business in mind. 

For instance, our EVV software gives you complete transparency to visit details with GPS capabilities and real-time updates. Caregivers will be able to do more in less time with our app that can be accessed from any connected mobile device. It even helps you track Medicaid funds by the consumer so there’s no question when it comes to billing. 

Communicate With Your Team

Once you’ve determined the EVV vendor you’ll be using, it’s important to communicate the upcoming changes with your staff as soon as possible. Remember, this is a big change and not everyone is happy to embrace change, especially when it has to do with technology. Try to be patient, be open to answering questions, and continue to provide frequent, consistent communication about what lies ahead. It will also help if you can point out the benefits that will impact them directly — things like less time spent on documentation and easy access to files and care plans.  

Have Realistic Expectations

Don’t expect everyone to understand and start using the new EVV software right away. Some people may require more training than others, so it may be beneficial to roll out the new EVV system in small increments to ensure as smooth of a transition as possible. Depending on the size of your team, it’s also wise to plan several follow-up meetings and question and answer sessions to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

Learn About the Benefits of Choosing FOCOS Innovations As Your EVV Software Provider

If you have the option to choose your own EVV software vendor, we encourage you to take a look at the software from FOCOS Innovations. It offers so much more than just basic electronic visit documentation. With real-time access to data right at their fingertips, your caregivers will have all the information they need to make the best decisions and provide the best possible care. 

Instant access to data and the ability to create custom reports means the arduous task of auditing will now be a breeze. No longer will someone have to sort through piles of paperwork to find the document they need. And better organization means fewer errors with regard to billing as well as care tasks. 

See why so many people are looking to FOCOS Innovations for their EVV solution — contact us today to learn more about how we can help you and take a tour of our software with a free demonstration.