Good Afternoon,
Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) EVV state stakeholder group held their monthly meeting. ODM shared the below updates. There was a lot of content discussed so I apologize that this email
is rather long. I will forward the PowerPoint from the meeting when I receive it.
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Accurate data on initial EVV adoption in Phase 2 services should be available within the next month or two.
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ODM and CMS-
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ODM is reviewing guidance released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on EVV. So far no changes have been made to Ohio’s EVV program based on the guidance. See attached ODM EVV newsletter for more information.
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ODM is finalizing their request to CMS for a good faith effort exemption that would delay financial penalties to ODM for not having EVV fully implemented in all the applicable services. The request should be finalized in the very
near future.
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Alternate Vendors-
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ODM and Sandata are working to bring some significant changes to the alternate vendor certification process.
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Changes are meant to streamline the communication process between Sandata, alternate vendors, and providers.
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As part of the changes, providers and their alternate vendors will be required to demonstrate to ODM and Sandata that their systems have some required core functionalities.
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Details on this process are still being worked out and more information will be coming out over the next two months.
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Alternate vendors will be required to demonstrate their software in-person while providers will be able to attend the demonstration in-person or virtually.
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Providers and currently certified alternate vendors will have to go through the demonstration in order to keep their certification. ODM is working on a process so that alternate vendors serving a large number of providers do not
have to demonstrate their platforms for every single provider using their system.
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We do not have a specific start date for these changes.
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See the attached newsletter for more information.
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Sandata Device Management-
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If you are having trouble with the Sandata device or the app sending visit information, make sure they are up to date with the latest version of the software.
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Devices that are constantly turned off may not have the opportunity to download and install the auto-updates set up on the devices. Apps installed on a provider or a staff’s device should be checked on a regular basis to make
sure the app is up to date.
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Some devices may need to be replaced due to manufacturer defects outside the controls of ODM or Sandata. Since the beginning of EVV implementation in January 2018, about 9% of devices had manufacturer defects. To request a replacement
device, you must call the Sandata Provider Help Line.
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EVV Visits Crossing Midnight-
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ODM was recently alerted that there are some issues with HPC or DODD waiver nursing visits that cross midnight when the provider is using Sandata.
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Sandata automatically assigns all EVV units to the day the visit starts instead of spreading the EVV units appropriately across the two days of the visit.
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ODM and DODD are analyzing the prevalence of the issue.
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For right now, providers using the Sandata system have two options.
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A DSP can end their visit right before midnight and start a new visit right at midnight.
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The visit can be edited in the Sandata EVV online portal. Providers will need to manually “split the visit” in the portal so that the appropriate number of units are allocated to the appropriate day.
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Sandata Provider Help Line-
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On 8/5, the day of go-live, the call center received 2,405 calls. During the week prior, there was an average of 500 calls a day. ODM and Sandata anticipated a spike in calls but not to this extent.
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50% of callers had not taken any EVV training before calling the help line which significantly extended the length of calls.
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Help Line call volume and wait times have since stabilized.
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great day,
Christine
Christine Touvelle, MLS
Policy Analyst
Ohio Provider Resource Association
O- 614-224-6772
1152 Goodale Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43212
