Electronic Visit Verification Phase II
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is a telephone and computer-based solution that electronically verifies in-home service visits occur. EVV solutions must verify: Type of service performed; Individual receiving the service; Date of the service; Location of service delivery; Individual providing the services; and Time the service begins and ends.
Pursuant to Subsection (l) of Section 1903 of the Social Security Act (SSA) (42 U.S.C. 1396b), all states must implement EVV for Medicaid-funded personal care services (PCS) by January 2020 and home health care services (HHCS) by January 2023. On October 22, 2019, CMS approved the State's Good Faith Effort (GFE) request for PCS, and will not apply Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) reductions in calendar year 2020. California's GFE approval letter from CMS is available on the
EVV CMS GFE Webpage.
The implementation of EVV for PCS is anticipated by January 1, 2022 and for HHCS by January 1, 2023. Stakeholder meetings will continue and will provide the opportunity to discuss the State's approach to EVV, the steps providers will need to take, and the EVV training that will be offered.
Stakeholder Engagement
The State will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout procurement and implementation efforts, and will share information with stakeholders about upcoming implementation milestones, training, and launch dates.
Future stakeholder meetings will continue to discuss the State's approach to EVV as well as the steps that providers will need to take to implement EVV and the EVV training that will be provided. All of the EVV training materials, policy, and technical requirements will be posted to this webpage in the future. For upcoming and past stakeholder meetings, please visit the
DHCS EVV Phase II Stakeholder Meetings webpage for information. Please send a request to
EVV@dhcs.ca.gov to be added to the EVV Phase II stakeholder distribution list.
EVV Implementation
EVV will impact all PCS and HHCS provided under the Medi-Cal State Plan and various Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service waiver programs. These services are provided in California through programs managed by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the California Department of Aging (CDA).
Note: Hospice and Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT) are not subject to EVV requirements.
California is implementing EVV in two phases:
Phase I:
This Phase is for the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and Waiver Personal Care Services program, focused on EVV implementation for programs that currently use the Case Management Payrolling & Information Systems (CMIPS II) and Electronic Time Sheet System (ETS). Further information about Phase I is available on the
CDSS EVV website.
Phase II: This Phase is focused on identifying a solution to implement EVV for non-CMIPS and agency PCS, and self-directed and agency HHCS. This includes programs at DHCS, DDS, CDPH, CDSS, and CDA as listed below:
- DDS 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Waivers, including the Self-Determination Program
- DDS 1915(i) State Plan Home and Community-Based Services
- DHCS 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Alternative Waiver
- DHCS Home Health Care Services
- CDA/DHCS Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) 1915(c) and 1115 Waiver
- CDPH/DHCS 1915(c) AIDS Medi-Cal Waiver
Phase II implementation of EVV requires the State to deploy an EVV solution for PCS and HHCS providers not included in Phase I. This includes PCS through provider agencies, individual providers, and some providers of self-directed services, and all HHCS. EVV Phase II will follow the "Open Vendor" EVV approach that will allow providers to choose between the State's EVV solution or an alternate EVV solution that meets state and federal EVV requirements. The State is working towards selecting a vendor and procuring an EVV solution.
Note: There are two models for the provision of PCS and HHCS, the Self Directed/Individual Provider Model and the Agency Provider Model.
The Self Directed Model, also known as the Individual Provider Model, supports the provision of PCS by an individual provider. This model gives the recipient, or their authorized representative, the autonomy to hire or fire a provider of their choosing as well as to instruct them on how to facilitate their PCS needs.
The Agency Provider Model supports the facilitation of PCS and/or HHCS by an authorized agency who is responsible for hiring, firing, and training personnel to facilitate services on behalf of an eligible Medi-Cal beneficiary. Agency Providers are employed by commercial agencies who manage their work, process payroll, and issue their paychecks. These agencies can either have contracts with counties or enroll through DHCS as a Medi-Cal provider.
Resources
Contact Us
Please direct your comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the EVV Phase II, or to be added to the EVV Phase II stakeholder process interested parties e-mail list, to
EVV@dhcs.ca.gov. 