"personal care services"

Under provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act), providers of Medicaid-funded personal care services (PCS) and home health care services (HHCS) will need to be fully compliant with their state’s electronic visit verification (EVV) systems by January 1, 2023

Congress passed the Cures Act on December 13, 2016. Among other things, in an effort to increase transparency and reduce fraud in connection with the delivery of health care services, this law mandated that states implement EVV systems for all Medicaid-funded (including under waiver programs) PCS by January 1, 2019, and HHCS by January 1, 2023, in each case where services include an in-home visit by a provider. Subsequent legislation extended the deadline for PCS to implement EVV requirements to January 1, 2020. However, the deadline for HHCS remains January 1, 2023, and is quickly approaching.

Providers of PCS and HHCS services should make sure that they are working towards implementing EVV systems in their own business operations in compliance with applicable state requirements, the majority of which also are requiring provider compliance by January 1, 2023Continue Reading Home Health Care Services Electronic Visit Verification System Implementation Required by January 1, 2023

The OIG has issued an “Investigative Advisory on Medicaid Fraud and Patient Harm Involving Personal Care Services” that identifies various “fraud schemes” it has encountered involving personal care services (PCS) — nonmedical assistance typically provided by an attendant working for a personal care agency.  PCS is an optional Medicaid benefit offered in certain