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Imagine this: You have a dinner date with your significant other. You make sure everything is pitch perfect–your dress and make-up, the luscious locks, and the most expensive perfume you own. 

You wear these all, arrive at the decided venue, and eagerly wait for them. 

A while passes, and they still haven’t arrived. So, you call them, but it goes unanswered. Tired of waiting and losing patience, your excitement drains as you realize they aren’t going to show up.

The meaning of home care fraud

This is exactly what an elderly feels–betrayed–when a caregiver due to arrive as scheduled doesn’t turn up. This is home care fraud. And, to curb this ill practice, operators of home care providers are increasingly turning to technology to ensure that older adults receive the right care.

Thanks to Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) technology, home care agencies can monitor caregivers remotely to ensure better care delivery, accurate billing, and compliance to show proof of service.

EVV – What’s the purpose?

The EVV system for home care was developed to tackle fraud and ensure that people receive the documented care they need. EVV ensures that the services billed for home care are for actual visits made by the caregivers. 

Besides tracking caregivers’ location, it integrates with payroll and flags supervisors in case of suspected neglect or abuse. 

How does EVV work?

Electronic Visit Verification with GPS tracking is integrated with computer software at the back end. It can also include telephony systems where caregivers can call in from every location to confirm arrival. 

GPS also tracks the caregiver’s location and shows a roadmap to the client’s location. 

EVV software is integrated with payroll systems, allowing companies to employ a cloud-based system that integrates with a mobile app to coordinate caregiver schedules, perform automated billing, manage payroll, and ensure timely communication and patient documentation.

Caregivers can update the older adults’ records within the system while submitting work logs.

What are the benefits of EVV?

The benefits go well beyond just avoidance of fraud and abuse. These include but aren’t limited to:

• Immediately tracking no-shows and late visits
• Eliminating the errors associated with paper-based timesheets
• Easily monitoring patient visits
• Recording billable hours in real-time
• Meeting state compliance requirements
• Instantly accessing the data needed for resource planning
• Optimizing operations
• Reducing payroll expenses
• Improving staff safety monitoring
• Improving client care

Conclusion

Electronic Visit Verification is a technology that hogs the limelight in fighting against fraud within home care. It protects the interests of elderly by guaranteeing their scheduled care takes place.

Besides, EVV offers real-time data on visit verification, billing accuracy, and caregiver activity. Acting on this information, agencies can optimize resource allocation, improve communication, and deliver superior care. 

As the industry transitions to mandatory EVV implementation, a future of transparency and trust in elder care is not far away.