On July 17, the Senate approved a House-passed bill to delay for one year (until January 1, 2020) the implementation of a requirement that Medicaid agencies adopt “electronic visit verification” (EVV) for personal care services provided at an individual’s home. The legislation also includes language to express a “sense of Congress” that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should hold at least one public meeting in 2018 to solicit stakeholder feedback on its May 2018 guidance on EVV, and should continue to communicate with stakeholders, including family caregivers, during EVV implementation. The bill is now ready for the president’s signature. Disability advocates had sought this legislation because of concerns that EVV has the potential to invade the privacy of people with disabilities, limit their independence and community access, and lead to cuts in services. A delay will give advocates more time to work with Congress, CMS, and the states to address these concerns.
Encourage confidence to act