No. Agencies must comply with the 21st'Century Cures Act, whether through the State-funded solution or through a third party EVV vendor. If you chose to opt out, you will not be reimbursed by Kansas Medicaid for behavior therapy, personal care services (PCS), respite care and home health services rendered. EVV will be required for home and community-based PCS and other waiver services, non-waiver PCS, and home health care service visits.

Kansas is providing a State-funded EVV solution called AuthentiCare, which means there is no cost to providers for the software. Agencies can choose to use a different EVV vendor at the agency's expense. If an agency does this, it is critical that the chosen vendor integrates with the State's vendor, Fiserv. This is called third-party EVV integration. An agency's vendor will be required to send EVV data to the State to verify visits and validate claims. If going with a non-State solution, please ensure integration capabilities. Third-party EVV vendors must be approved by the State. AuthentiCare is a bring-your-own-device model that is simple to use. Provider agency staff complete reporting of visits via an AuthentiCare application (app) on their smartphones or the member's landline. This will streamline reporting activities, increase accuracy and make the process easier for provider organizations.

Yes. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment requires EVV for all mandated services, regardless if the service occurs in the home or in the community. Most services that require EVV may be provided in both the home or community.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated that all states implement Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for agencies and/or caregivers providing in home personal care, attendant care, respite services and home health visits. This federal requirement is the result of the 21st Century Cures Act. Visits will be electronically verified with the following information: type of service performed, individual receiving the service, date of service, location of service delivery, individual providing the service, time service begins and ends.

The hybrid approach to EVV implementation permits flexibility when choosing which system to utilize. Providers may choose to utilize the State EVV solution at any time. Since training and systems requirements for the State EVV solution differ from that of provider choice systems, KDHE recommends that providers plan timelines accordingly to ensure a seamless transition. Provider agencies must comply with all KDHE timelines, regardless of implementation progress with provider choice interfacing. Provider agencies may use the State EVV solution until their interface is complete to remain in compliance.

The 21st Century Cures Act mandates that states implement EVV for personal care and home health services. Kansas will implement EVV for the required services and additional services that are similar in nature and service delivery. Service types that require EVV include: behavioral therapy, personal care services (PCS), self-directed PCS, home health services, homemaker services, occupational therapy, severe emotional disturbance (SED) PCS, physical therapy, private duty nursing, respite care and speech therapy. 'A detailed list of services, including procedure codes, that require EVV in Kansas can be found on the KanCare website or in the EVV program manual.

There is no charge to the provider agencies for the State-funded EVV system. If you choose a different solution the State will not cover those costs.

No. GPS only activates at the time of check-in and check-out, and location is turned off as soon as you close the application.

Authorizations cannot be manually entered into the EVV system. Authorizations can be reviewed on the AuthentiCare home page, or the authorizations report can pull specific authorization details to ensure the authorization was added correctly.

Yes, adjustments can be made directly with the MCO or through the Provider Portal.

If you self-direct services that fall on the list of service codes requiring EVV, you and/or your caregiver(s) must use EVV. The list of service codes requiring an EVV is the same regardless if a person self-directs their care. The financial management services (FMS) provider you selected is responsible for training both you and your caregiver(s) on how to use the EVV system.

Financial management services (FMS) agency administrators can set up the caregiver in the system. Representatives can also access the AuthentiCare web portal to review service delivery information. Review the AuthentiCare User Manual to ensure that representatives and self-directed workers are set up correctly in AuthentiCare.

Authorizations are loaded into AuthentiCare from the payers directly (KMAP, Aetna, Healthy Blue, Sunflower, United Healthcare). Authorizations are updated daily.

AuthentiCare has strong security controls in place to protect data under their HIPAA privacy policy. AuthentiCare mobile also uses a username and password combination along with the device ID of the worker’s mobile device (“something you have”) that is stored with worker data in AuthentiCare. AuthentiCare passwords have National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-based strength and complexity requirements including length, character, expiration, history and dictionary.

Fiserv performs annual independent third-party approved audits that demonstrates their commitment and dedication to security, compliance and privacy. Their annual independent third-party audits include SSAE 18 (SOC 2), HIPAA/HITECH, CMS OBC, CMS MARS-E and are currently undergoing a HITRUST R2 validated certification. Fiserv meets the requirements of FedRAMP Moderate with their CMS, NIST and FISMA control sets. For more information please see AuthentiCare’s Online Privacy Statement: AuthentiCare.

If caregivers can see clients who they are not supposed to provide services to in the AuthentiCare mobile application, it is essential that the worker’s set up in the web portal is reviewed and modified. Review Chapter 6 of the AuthentiCare user manual to ensure the steps for representative, and self-directed worker set up were followed correctly.

Per the Kansas Privacy Officer, HIPAA does allow the transfer of PHI without patient authorization for billing/payment purposes, therefore the provider may share the patient’s Medicaid ID with the caregiver to facilitate timekeeping and billing. The provider must educate the caregiver about not releasing any PHI about the patient to any third party without authorization.

Yes, the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) derived from EVV data will allow us to monitor payer as well as provider efficiency for data such as:

1. Timeliness of first visit.
2. Timeliness of payment processing.
3. Accuracy of claims on a per-provider basis.
4. Accuracy of authorizations on a per-payer basis.
5. Indicators of fraud, waste, and abuse at the caregiver or provider level.
6. Caregiver accountability.
7. Decision support information to identify and address concerns.

The Quick Response (QR) code authentication feature provides an alternative approach to Multi-Factor Authentication. QR code authentication is particularly useful in situations when multiple workers share the same device, or one worker providers services across multiple agencies. Review the AuthentiCare User Manual for more information.

Refer to the KDHE EVV training page for more information on training.

The master worker ID links together all worker IDs associated with the same Social Security Number (SSN) or Work Visa Number to allow administrators to monitor the work hours of individuals employed by multiple agencies as a safeguard against data inaccuracies and fraudulent activities.

iOS (iPhone) 13.0 or Android 6.0

The AuthentiCare mobile application logs the longitude and latitude coordinates of the mobile application during check-in and check-out. “Learn Mode" is the process of utilizing the average of the initial 20 check-ins and check-outs to set the GPS coordinates on the client profile.

Check with the Provider Enrollment team to make sure your agency has the appropriate taxonomy to provide the service in question. They can be reached at kansas-provider-enrollment@gainwelltechnologies.com.

All third-party vendors need to have their visit information loaded to AuthentiCare by the tenth of each month in order to be captured for CMS reporting.

In the AuthentiCare User Manual, there is a description for each AuthentiCare report that can guide you to select the one most appropriate for your needs. Below is also some additional information on helpful reports:

1. Reports for Tracking Service Delivery: Worker Activity Report, Time and Attendance Report, Claim Details Report.
2. Reports for Claim Review: Claim Data Listing Report, Billing Invoice Report.
3. Reports for Compliance: Overlapped Visit by Client Report, Overlapped Claim by Master Worker Report, Overlapped Visit By Worker, Registered Phone Verification Report, Unauthorized Location Report, Unauthorized Phone Number Report.
4. And More.

Any questions around claim denials or disputes must be directed to the appropriate MCO as they are the issuer of the funds.

Authorization creation and correction has to happen in the payer (MCO) system which will then flow into AuthentiCare as they are the source of truth. Authorizations should be reviewed for accuracy before being approved. If any adjustments need to be made please contact the MCO directly to have corrections made.

There will be an opportunity in all training sessions to both ask questions and provide feedback. KDHE and KDADS will hold provider town hall sessions periodically, as an opportunity for providers to ask questions, obtain guidance, and participate in EVV listening sessions. Additionally, if you need to communicate to someone directly outside of a training, please contact the EVV team.

The State will continue to update the KanCare website with more EVV information. Providers may review updates on KanCare.ks.gov or through global messages and provider bulletins on the KMAP website. Please check these pages regularly for new information from KDHE and the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). In addition, KDHE/KDADS will also hold town hall sessions about EVV periodically as an opportunity for providers to ask questions, obtain guidance and participate in EVV listening sessions. Registration for future events can be found under the EVV Events section of this site.

AuthentiCare is the current default Kansas EVV solution. AuthentiCare is a product of Fiserv/First Data. Fiserv/First Data provides the data aggregator solution in Kansas that will be operational after December 3, 2023. EVV solutions that are not Kansas' current default EVV provider may be referred to as third-party EVV vendors. They are sometimes also referred to as 'provider's choice' solutions. We may refer to third-party EVV vendor solutions that are approved to interface with the Kansas aggregator function as 'trading partners.' Trading partner EVV solutions can be used to bill for services requiring EVV.

A third-party EVV vendor will first read the Kansas EVV aggregator informational flyer available on the Kansas EVV website. From there they will determine which method of data submission they believe is appropriate and fill out an application, also available on the Kansas EVV website. They will email the application to the State of Kansas. The State of Kansas and Fiserv will then coordinate with the third-party EVV vendor with more technical details to determine if the third-party EVV vendor solution is compatible. Eventually this would include testing in a test environment, then the production environment.

No. Providers can use AuthentiCare, the State of Kansas EVV solution, at no cost. Providers can choose to use a third-party EVV vendor, but it must be approved by Kansas before it can be used to bill for Medicaid services requiring EVV. The State of Kansas will not pay or reimburse the provider agency for the cost of any third-party EVV vendor solution.

The State of Kansas' aggregator contractor, Fiserv, will send the technical specifications once they receive and screen the third-party EVV vendor's application.

There are three data submission methods: API, SFTP, and manual web upload. See the Kansas EVV aggregator informational flyer on the Electonic Visit Verification page for more information.

The EVV function within an EHR solution is eligible to be approved as a third-party EVV solution. If a provider agency has its own system that includes EVV functions, they can apply for it to become an approved third-party EVV solution.

There is no deadline. Provider agencies may make the transition at any time. The third-party EVV vendor must be approved. The transition takes 30-60 days. No third-party EVV solution can be used operationally until after the Kansas data aggregator is live on December 3, 2023.

Yes. Though caregivers will not need to access AuthentiCare if they are instead using third-party EVV vendors, each provider agency will have to access AuthentiCare for some functions, so training is still required.

The third-party EVV solution must be able to interface with the Kansas data aggregator and be approved to do so for provider agencies to use it for purposes of billing for services requiring EVV. If the preferred third-party EVV solution cannot interface with the Kansas data aggregator, then provider agencies may use AuthentiCare at no cost. Provider agencies could also choose to use other third-party EVV vendors that are approved.

Yes. Claims must be submitted through AuthentiCare. Caregivers do not need to interact with AuthentiCare if the provider agency is using a third-party EVV vendor. However, provider agency users must use AuthentiCare for some functions.