If you are a home care agency owner or a healthcare professional in 2026, you’ve likely spent a significant amount of time navigating the 21st Century Cures Act. At the heart of this legislation is one specific requirement that has transformed the industry: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).
But what is it, exactly? Beyond the technical jargon, EVV is a digital safeguard designed to ensure that vulnerable patients receive the care they are promised. It replaces the outdated, error-prone world of paper timesheets with a real-time, GPS-validated system that records exactly when and where care is delivered.
How Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Works
At its core, EVV is a verification system that captures six specific data points for every home visit. To comply with federal and state mandates, the software must electronically record:
- Type of Service: Which specific care plan task is being performed?
- Individual Receiving Service: Who is the patient or beneficiary?
- Individual Providing Service: Who is the caregiver or nurse?
- Date of Service: On what day did the visit occur?
- Location of Delivery: Was the care provided at the patient’s home?
- Time of Service: Exactly when did the session start and end?
The Verification Process
Most caregivers interact with this technology through a mobile application on their smartphone. When they arrive at a patient’s home, they “clock in” via the app. The software uses geofencing a virtual perimeter around the patient’s address to verify that the caregiver is physically present. Once the visit is complete, they “clock out,” often capturing a digital signature or voice verification from the patient.
Why EVV is Mandatory for Home Care Agencies
The mandate wasn’t created just to add more paperwork to your day. It was implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to address long-standing concerns regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in home-based care.
By 2026, the stakes for compliance have never been higher. States now enforce strict accuracy thresholds often requiring 85% or higher EVV matching to avoid reductions in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding. For agencies, this means that if a visit isn’t verified through an approved system, the claim will simply be denied.
Integrating with Your Clinical Workflow
While EVV is a legal requirement, it shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. The most successful agencies use an integrated EHR (Electronic Health Record) system that weaves verification directly into clinical documentation. This ensures that the care recorded by the nurse matches the billable hours tracked by the EVV, creating a seamless audit trail that protects your agency’s revenue.
The Strategic Benefits of EVV Software
If you view EVV purely as a compliance burden, you’re missing out on a powerful tool for operational growth. Modern platforms offer features that can actually make your agency more profitable and easier to manage.
1. Real-Time Visibility and Safety
In the past, an office manager might not know a caregiver missed a visit until a family member called to complain hours later. With real-time EVV alerts, your scheduling team is notified the moment a clock-in is missed, allowing them to send a replacement or check on a staff member’s safety immediately.
2. Streamlined Payroll and Billing
Manual data entry is the “silent killer” of agency margins. When you use a specialized myEZhome care software, the verified visit data flows directly into your payroll and billing modules. This eliminates the need for “timesheet Tuesday” and reduces the human errors that lead to payment delays.
3. Enhanced Security and Trust
In an era of increasing cyber threats, the data collected during home visits must be protected. The best software solutions ensure that all patient and employee information is fully hipaa compliant, using encryption to safeguard sensitive location and health data. This builds trust with both state regulators and the families you serve.
Choosing the Right EVV Model for Your Agency
Depending on your state, you may encounter different “models” for verification. Some states use a “Closed Model,” where you must use a specific state-sponsored vendor. However, many have shifted to an “Open Vendor” or “Hybrid Model.”
Under an open model, you have the flexibility to choose a software partner like myEZcare that fits your specific workflow, as long as it can transmit the required data to the state’s central aggregator. This choice is vital because a user-friendly app leads to higher caregiver adoption and fewer manual edits, which are a major red flag for auditors in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about EVV
Does EVV work if there is no cell service?
Yes. High-quality EVV apps include an “Offline Mode” that captures the time and location and then syncs the data once the caregiver returns to a Wi-Fi or cellular range.
Is GPS tracking constant?
No. To respect caregiver privacy, most EVV systems only capture location at the specific moments of clock-in and clock-out to verify the visit took place at the patient’s residence.
What are “Reason Codes”?
If a caregiver has to manually adjust a visit (e.g., they forgot their phone), they must enter a “Reason Code.” In 2026, states are cracking down on agencies with high rates of manual adjustments, as these are seen as potential fraud risks.
Who is exempt from EVV?
Generally, live-in caregivers and services provided in an institutional setting (like a hospital or nursing home) are exempt. However, rules vary by state, so always check your local DHHS guidelines.
Can patients see the EVV data?
Many modern platforms include a “Family Portal” where authorized family members can see verified visit logs, providing them with peace of mind that their loved one is receiving care.
