Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) For Physical Therapists

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Article Summary

  1. EVV is a tracking system that requires electronic verification of when a person receives Medicaid-funded personal care of home health services.
  2. EVV verifies when caregiver visits occur and documents the precise time services begin and end.
  3. Most EVVs use a Global Positioning Service (GPS), which is a satellite-based system, to capture the location where the service is provided.
  4. StrataEMR offers a cutting edge EVV solution for physical therapy providers that is part of the most comprehensive mobile therapist platform in the marketplace.
  5. Now, with one click, mobile therapists can: The best of all, StrataEMR’s Mobile Therapist is easy to use and is backed by StrataPT,  the industry’s #1 US-based customer service and the nation’s leading business operating system for PT/OT/ST practices.

Understanding Electronic Visit Verification

As the home care industry continues to grow, unfortunately so does the amount of fraudulent paper timesheets derived from a few bad apples.  Let’s face it, even those of us who are honest find these paper timesheets a time-consuming nuisance.  How does the industry efficiently move forward while still maintaining a foundation of integrity and trust?  The answer is Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).

What is EVV?

EVV is a tracking system that requires electronic verification of when a person receives Medicaid-funded personal care of home health services.  EVV verifies when caregiver visits occur and documents the precise time services begin and end.  It also ensures that patients receive their medically necessary services.  

The EVV mandate was among many health care improvements that came from the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016, which had strong bipartisan support.  The mandate set the deadline for EVV compliance to January 1st, 2019.  Later, that deadline was updated to 2020 with a provision that could extend the date to January 1st, 2021 as long as the state was making a good faith effort to comply with EVV.  You can view a list of state requests for the good faith exemptions here.

How Do EVV Systems Work?

Most EVVs use a Global Positioning Service (GPS), which is a satellite-based system, to capture the location where the service is provided.  Another option to capture the location is Interactive Voice Responder (IVR) which requires the caregiver or employee to check-in and out using a landline or mobile device located at the patient’s residence.  A GPS system will have more robust features and is considered optimal over an IVR system.

What Type of Information Are Physical Therapists Required to Collect?

The required data collection for EVV is as follows:

  • Type of Service
  • Individual Receiving the Service
  • Date of Service
  • Location Where the Service was Delivered
  • Individual Provider
  • Time the Service Began and Ended

While this seems straightforward, the ways your state requires you to convey this information can vary.  Some states may require additional information as well.  Always comply with your individual state’s requirements.

Challenges With Existing EVV Aggregators

Currently, most EVV aggregators don’t offer an integration with solid software platforms, making EVV unwieldy and inconvenient to use.  Many of these options limit the choice of a software platform to only a few state-selected vendors, so those providing services across multiple states or multiple lines of service will be forced to use multiple software options.  These solutions rarely have comprehensive Revenue Cycle Management options as well.

For most therapists, these EVV challenges are detrimental to their business.  Rather than making life easier for the therapist, they see implementing EVV as time-consuming and filled with frustration.

Until now.

Introducing StrataEMR’s Mobile Therapist Software

StrataEMR offers a cutting edge EVV solution for physical therapy providers that is part of the most comprehensive mobile therapist platform in the marketplace.  Our software was designed exclusively to assist in the challenges that therapists face in the field so they can focus more of their attention on helping patients.

The Benefits of StrataEMR’s Mobile Therapist Software

With StrataEMR’s Mobile Therapist Software, it’s easier than ever to simplify your day, schedule your patients more efficiently and make life easier on the road using a powerful routing optimization tool. Now, with one click, mobile therapists can:

  • Get directions
  • Call your patient
  • Text your patient
  • Access EVV
  • Monitor your productivity and pay in real-time
  • Access your documentation, billing, Medicare eligibility and so much more.

The best of all, StrataEMR’s Mobile Therapist is easy to use and is backed by StrataPT,  the industry’s #1 US-based customer service and the nation’s leading business operating system for PT/OT/ST practices.
EVV compliance has never been easier.  Contact StrataPT today to schedule a free demo.