California Electronic Visit Verification
Announcements:
Effective January 27, the Sandata customer support automated phone system will provide a streamlined and more efficient call process. Improvements include simplified phone prompts, improved navigation, and faster menu options. These updates apply only to the Customer Care Phone System and do not affect Telephonic Visit Verification (TVV).
What is EVV?
EVV is a telephone and computer-based solution that electronically verifies in-home service visits. EVV solutions must verify the following six (6) data elements:
- Type of service performed
-
Individual receiving the service
- Date of the service
- Location of service delivery
- Individual providing the service
- Time the service begins and ends
Background
The 21st Century CURES Act, signed into law in 2016, requires that states set up an EVV system to verify that all Medicaid-funded Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home Health Care Services (HHCS) occurred.
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 PCS by January 2020 and HHCS by January 2023. On October 22, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (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.
California Implementation of EVV
PCS was implemented on January 1, 2022, and HHCS was implemented on January 1, 2023. All EVV impacted providers must be registered, trained, and using either the CalEVV system or an Alternate (Alt) EVV system. To learn more, visit EVV Implementation.
EVV Policy
Does EVV apply to me?
Provider Types and Codes - T
his document outlines the providers that will be impacted by EVV. Please reference this document to verify if your program will need to comply with EVV requirements. Exclusions
The following services are not subject to EVV requirements:
- HHCS or PCS that do not require an in-home visit;
- HHCS or PCS provided in congregate residential settings where 24-hour service is available;
- HHCS or PCS that are provided by a “Live-in Caregiver," which may impact some Individual Nurse Provider (INP) or Private Duty Nursing (PDN);
- Services rendered through:
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Hospice services
- California Community Transitions (CCT) program
-
Genetically Handicapped Persons Program (GHPP)
- Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
- Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT) or individuals with intellectual disabilities, or an institution for mental diseases
- Doula Services
-
Community Health Workers (CHW)
- Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
- HHCS or PCS that are provided to inpatients or residents of a hospital, long term care includes but not limited to skilled nursing facility (SNFs) both freestanding and hospital-based SNFs, subacute facilities, pediatric subacute facilities, and intermediate care facilities;
- In-home delivery and setup of Durable Medical Equipment (DME);
- Dual Eligible Plans or Medi-Medi plans for both HHCS and PCS that are primarily paid by Medicare and/or Other Health Coverage (OHC);
- Attendant care providers rendering services for medical transportation trips and appointments.
Live-In Caregiver
Definition:
A "Live-in Caregiver" is a caregiver who regularly remains in the recipient's home for more than 24 hours at a time and provides any of the authorized PCS and HHCS.
In-Home Support Services (IHSS) Providers:
Individual Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) providers and IHSS providers following the self-directed model and that receive payment directly from the state will not submit EVV data using CalEVV. Individual WPCS and IHSS providers must comply with the IHSS EVV requirements published on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) EVV website and submit EVV data utilizing the IHSS EVV Mobile Application, the IHSS Electronic Services Portal, or the IHSS Telephone Timesheet System. WPCS providers employed by PCS agencies must comply with EVV requirements using CalEVV. For more information and policies regarding IHSS EVV, please see the
CDSS EVV website.
If a caregiver provides services to other recipients who do not meet the definition above, then the caregiver would need to register for EVV.
Provider Self-Registration Portal
Those who provide PCS and HHCS are required to register in the
Provider Self-Registration Portal. Please refer to the quick reference guide or instructional video to help complete your registration if needed.
Resources
Additional Information
Note: A Sandata account is necessary to access this information. Create an account if you do not have one.
Training
Supplemental Training Material Guide – Description of CalEVV unique configuration
CalEVV Training Videos – Each recording is less than 20 minutes and can be accessed at any time by new staff or as a refresher to current staff.
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Videos include: CalEVV Introduction, Sandata on Demand & Bulk Upload, System Overview, Data Entry, Visit Capture, Visit Maintenance, Group Visit Agency, Group Visit Caregivers, etc.
CalEVV Spotlight
Explore previous editions of the CalEVV Spotlight for news updates, guidance, and best practices.
Stakeholder Engagement / Informational Webinars
Jurisdictional Entities (JE) Monitoring Resources
CalEVV Aggregator
Business Intelligence (BI) powered by DOMO
Alternate EVV Providers and Vendors
Providers and vendors using an Alternative EVV (AltEVV) system (not CalEVV), follow these instructions to complete the onboarding process:
1. Provider registers and informs of selected vendor.
2. Provider and vendor are acknowledged and advised of next steps including training for provider and testing for vendor.
3. AltEVV vendor registers in the Vendor Self-Registration Portal and links to the provider they are associated with.
4. AltEVV vendor completes testing in vendor portal.
5. Once validated, AltEVV vendor generates the Welcome Letter via the vendor portal and it is sent to the provider.
For additional information, refer to the following AltEVV guides and resources:
Virtual / Online Office Hours
Starting in November 2024, Office Hours will no longer have a presentation and will be a space to come to ask questions and get help from our EVV team. Register to come if you have questions for the team and drop in at any time during the hour session. Our EVV team can provide 1:1 assistance during our new Office Hours format.
Friday, July 18, 2025 – Q&A Session
Join July 18 Microsoft Teams Meeting
2 PM | PST | 1hr
Monday, July 28, 2025 – Q&A Session
Join July 28 Microsoft Teams Meeting
1 PM | PST | 1 hr
CalEVV E-mail Notifications
Stay informed with the latest news and updates. Click subscribe to join our mailing list.
Contact Us
Please direct your comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the CalEVV to EVV@dhcs.ca.gov. 