Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
What is EVV?
EVV uses technology to make sure that members and participants receive the services they need. Workers check in at the beginning and check out at the end of each visit, using a smart phone or tablet, small digital device, or landline telephone. The EVV system captures six key pieces of information:
- Who receives the service
- Who provides the service
- What service is provided
- Where the service is provided
- The date of service
- The time the service begins and ends
Here is the list of personal care services and home health care services codes that require workers to capture EVV information in Wisconsin.
EVV systems are secure and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
What programs are required to use an EVV system?
- Personal care and supportive home care services (PCS)
- Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus fee-for-service (ForwardHealth card)
- BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI HMOs
- Family Care and Family Care Partnership
- IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct)
- Home health care services (HHCS)*
- Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus fee-for-service (ForwardHealth card
- BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI HMOs
- Family Care and Family Care Partnership
* The IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) program does not require EVV for HHCS because IRIS is not a payer for these services.
Stay up to date
Key Conversations
Join Key Conversations—an informal, monthly drop-in session. DHS staff and EVV specialists will be available to answer questions about EVV.
September 16, 2024: 1–2 p.m. CT | Join online | Call in: 551-285-1373 and use webinar ID 161 301 0279
October 21, 2024: 1–2 p.m. CT | Join online | Call in: 551-285-1373 and use webinar ID 161 301 0279
Administrative Training for Providers and Independent Nurses New to EVV
Complete Sandata's self-paced videos to start EVV! See the Training webpage for more information.
New! Live Webinars for Independent Nurses and Providers
These optional webinars can help providers and independent nurses prepare for hard launch. Each session will include a question-and-answer portion.
New Sandata Mobile Connect (SMC) App
Sandata released a new SMC app in July 2023. The old app is no longer available for download and will not be updated. Workers should download the new app today to ensure continued support and service. See the Training Workers webpage for more information.
Getting started with EVV
Watch a video
You can start by watching our video that explains how EVV works during a visit.
Read the step-by-step guide
Next, if you’re a provider preparing to use an EVV system, review the New to EVV? guide, P-03078. It's available in English, Hmong, and Spanish. Providers can opt for either the DHS-provided EVV system, Sandata, or an alternate EVV system.
If you’re a member, IRIS participant, or payer, choose an option from the menu on the left side of the screen to find EVV information just for you.
- Fee-for-service providers can find policy in the BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid program area of the Online Handbook. The Online Handbook is updated whenever policy becomes effective and reflects the current guidance that providers should follow.
- Family Care providers should refer to the Electronic Visit Verification section of the Family Care program area of the Online Handbook.
- Family Care Partnership providers should refer to the Electronic Visit Verification section of the Family Care Partnership program area of the Online Handbook.
- IRIS providers should reference IRIS EVV Policy, P-03053 (PDF), or your HMO or MCO.
DHS will work to:
- Maintain services provided, including community integration.
- Support provider selection.
- Keep an individual’s choice of a worker.
- Ensure needed care is delivered.
- Ensure data is secure and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- December 2016
21st Century Cures Act signed into law. - August 2017
Personal care and supportive home care services advisory meetings began. - July 2020
EVV policy for required personal care and supportive home care services is published.
Wisconsin EVV Customer Care launched. - August 2020
Provider training began. - November 2, 2020
EVV for personal care and supportive home care services is required with the start of soft launch. - May 1, 2023
EVV hard launch for personal care and supportive home care services began.
- December 2016
21st Century Cures Act signed into law. - May 2022
Home health care services and nurse supervisor advisory meetings began. - May 2, 2023
The first forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - August 24, 2023
The second forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - November 21, 2023
EVV policy for required personal care service code 99509 [Home visit for assistance with activities of daily living and personal care (per visit)] is published. - November 29, 2023
The third forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - January 1, 2024
EVV for personal care service code 99509 [Home visit for assistance with activities of daily living and personal care (per visit)] is required with the start of soft launch. - June 11, 2024
The fourth and final forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - October 1, 2024
EVV hard launch for personal care service code 99509 [Home visit for assistance with activities of daily living and personal care (per visit)] will begin.
- December 2016
21st Century Cures Act signed into law. - May 2022
Home health care services and nurse supervisor advisory meetings began. - May 2, 2023
The first forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - August 24, 2023
The second forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - November 21, 2023
EVV policy for required home health care services is published. - November 29, 2023
The third forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - January 1, 2024
EVV for home health care services is required with the start of soft launch. - June 11, 2024
The fourth and final forum is held for home health care services and personal care nurse supervisory code 99509. - October 1, 2024
EVV hard launch for home health care services will begin.
The 21st Century Cures Act is a federal law that was passed in 2016. It requires each state, including Wisconsin, to collect visit information using an electronic visit verification (EVV) system. The law helps make sure that members and participants receive the in-home services they need. If the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) doesn’t follow this law, Wisconsin will lose money for Medicaid services.
The chart below lists outages meeting the DHS outage policy criteria. To review the outage policy criteria and instructions on how to ensure claims are paid during an outage, providers should refer to the following:
- Fee-for-service providers can find policy in the BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid program area of the Online Handbook.
- Family Care providers should refer to the Electronic Visit Verification section of the Family Care program area of the Online Handbook.
- Family Care Partnership providers should refer to the Electronic Visit Verification section of the Family Care Partnership program area of the Online Handbook.
- IRIS providers should reference IRIS EVV Policy, P-03053 (PDF)
| Date(s) of Outage | Sandata Systems Impacted | Who Does Not Need to Capture EVV During the Timeframe Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, July 21, 2023 – Sunday, July 23, 2023 | Sandata visit capture methods (SMC app, TVV, FVV), Sandata aggregator, Sandata EVV provider portal | All providers regardless of the system being used |
This list does not include regional power outages, temporary Sandata outages (less than 24 hours), individual provider outages, or alternate EVV vendor outages. Providers can reach out to their local utility company or consult a publicly available database for documentation of power outages. Providers using alternate EVV should contact their alternate EVV system vendor for proof of outages.
Contact Wisconsin EVV Customer Care with questions at 833-931-2035 Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–6 p.m. CT or at vdxc.contactevv@wisconsin.gov.