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EVV & Self-Direction Report

CDPAANYS published a report detailing the recommendations of those who use Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) on the implementation of a controversial new Federal requirement called Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). The report, entitled Electronic Visit Verification and Self-Direction: A Consumer Perspective is the result of a series of discussions by CDPAANYS’ Consumer Advocates Workgroup, which is comprised of CDPAANYS’ consumer members. The report relays consumers’ desires and concerns related to the administration of EVV in New York State in advance of finalized Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, and has been submitted as the official recommendation of the workgroup.

EVV is an employee record keeping system that electronically tracks when a Personal Assistant (PA) arrives and leaves a consumer’s home using a telephone or computer program. The 21st Century CURES Act requires that all personal care service and home health care service providers utilize EVV by January 1st, 2020. All states must comply with this mandate or suffer a penalty of one percent of their Federal matching funds for personal care and home health care services. Because EVV is already widely in use in New York for agency-based personal care, the state has opted for the provider choice model. This model allows agencies to purchase systems from vendors they select as long as it meets the requirements outlined in the act.

The report’s key findings are that:

  • Fiscal intermediaries (FIs), the agencies that administer consumer directed personal assistance (CDPA), should institute consumer committees to provide feedback on prospective EVV systems being considered by the FI.

  • Whenever possible, consumers should be provided a choice of EVV system to utilize by their FI.

  • FIs should prioritize the use of telephone-based EVV (telephony) or web-based EVV.

  • Consumers were opposed to the use of GPS tracking systems and biometric systems, worried about the potential invasion of privacy for both them and their staff.

  • Accessibility of the system for all disabilities is a critical system component.