Electronic Visit Verification

What Is Electronic Visit Verification?

Electronic visit verification (EVV) is an electronic system providers use to record information when delivering in-home or community-based services where participants receive support with activities of daily living and/or instrumental activities of daily living. The Department for Medicaid Services is transitioning to EVV for its 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers. The use of EVV is a requirement of the 21st Century Cures Act passed by Congress in 2016.

EVV must electronically verify six aspects of service delivery: the date, location and type of service, the individual providing the service, the individual receiving the service and the start and end times of the service.

EVV offers several benefits to providers and waiver participants such as eliminating the need for paper documentation, creating flexibility in scheduling and delivering services, improved monitoring of participant health, safety and welfare and reduction in potential Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse.

Guiding Principles of EVV Phase I

DMS believes EVV Phase I should:

Simplify required documentation and reduce administrative burden on participants and providers.
Improve participant health, safety and welfare.
Not reduce a participant's services or alter chosen service delivery method.
Be developed with input from all stakeholders.
Include training for providers and participants.
Bring Kentucky into compliance with federal law.

Affected Programs

Traditional service provider agencies and financial management agencies (FMA) that bill certain in-home or community-based services must have direct service providers or participant-directed services employees enter visit information via EVV. This applies to five of Kentucky's six 1915(c) HCBS waivers: Acquired Brain Injury and Acquired Brain Injury Long Term Care, Home- and Community-Based, Michelle P. Waiver and Supports for Community Living. Read the Electronic Visit Verification - Affected Services document for a listing of services by waiver that must use EVV.

Provider EVV Options

Providers have two options for EVV. DMS is working with Tellus, LLC to launch EVV in Kentucky. Providers who opt to use Tellus EVV receive training and can use the system free of charge.

DMS allows providers to choose their own EVV systems or continue using their current EVV systems. Providers are responsible for all costs associated with use of third-party systems, ensuring their preferred systems meet the requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act and ensuring full integration with Tellus to allow DMS to reimburse for rendered services and conduct waiver quality assurance activities. The following third-party systems have integrated with Tellus during EVV Phase I: Ankota, Bluestep Systems, ClearCare, Continulink/Complia, Delta Health Tech, Mains'l, Oasis Technologies, Savii Care and Therap. If a provider wishes to integrate a system that is not listed, it will need to wait until EVV Phase II.

EVV Training

Tellus offers live user training sessions. Training topics and the intended audience are listed below. Attendees only need to attend one session date per topic. The training is recorded and available for viewing on-demand as well. You can register for live training or view recordings on the Tellus training registration website.

Tellus EVV+ Mobile App

Audience: DSPs and PDS employees from provider agencies and FMAs using Tellus EVV

Kentucky CHFS Participant Directed Services (PDS) Providers

Audience: PDS employees from FMAs using Tellus EVV

Tellus EVV Administrative Portal

Audience: EVV administrator(s) at provider agencies and FMAs using Tellus EVV

Tellus EVV Claims Portal

Audience: EVV administrator(s) at all provider agencies and FMAs

Live Question and Answer Sessions

Audience: EVV administrator(s), DSPs and PDS employees who have attended a Tellus EVV training session and have questions about the system or mobile app.

Tellus EVV User Guides

Tellus EVV+ Mobile App User Guide (English) and Tellus EVV+ Mobile App User Guide (Spanish): This guide is for paid caregivers who work for provider agencies using the Tellus EVV+ Mobile App.
Tellus EVV Admin User Guide (English) and Tellus EVV Admin User Guide (Spanish): This guide is for provider agencies using the Tellus EVV system and explains how to use the Tellus EVV Admin Console.
Tellus EVV Claims User Guide and Tellus EVV Claims User Guide (Spanish): This guide is for all provider agencies and explains how to use the Tellus EVV Claims Console to review, release and bill claims for EVV-affected services.
Tellus EVV IVR User Guide and Tellus EVV IVR User Guide (Spanish): This guide is for paid caregivers using Tellus EVV interactive voice response for EVV.

EVV Support

EVV Frequently Asked Questions addresses the most common questions about EVV. The Tellus EVV QRG: Who to Call gives a listing of common issues and where to get help.

If you have policy questions about 1915(c) HCBS waivers and EVV, please email the 1915(c) Waiver Help Desk or call (844) 784-5614.

If you have technical issues with Tellus EVV, visit the Tellus website and click the yellow Open Support Ticket button to get help.

Important EVV Update
DMS is pausing the required use of Tellus EVV to capture the six data elements outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act. Providers are not required to use Tellus EVV for billing beginning April 1, 2021 as previously planned. Next steps for providers are outlined in the EVV update letter.

EVV information and resources

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Tellus EVV Agency Registration

Registration is for traditional provider agencies and financial management agencies (FMA) only. Paid caregivers and PDS employees using Tellus EVV are registered by their provider agency or FMA.