The Six EVV Data Elements Required by the Cures Act
Every Medicaid EVV record must capture six data points. What each one means in practice, how it's captured, and the mistakes that cause claim denials.
By Caregiver Scheduling Team ·
Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act requires every electronic visit verification (EVV) system to record six things about each Medicaid personal care or home health visit: the type of service, the person receiving it, the date, the location, the person providing it, and the start and end times (Medicaid.gov). If any one of them is missing or doesn’t match the authorization, the claim can deny.
What are the six EVV data elements?
| # | Element | How it’s usually captured | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type of service performed | Service code chosen at check-in or set on the scheduled visit | Wrong code for the authorization (e.g. homemaker billed as personal care) |
| 2 | Individual receiving the service | Client’s Medicaid ID on the visit | ID typed wrong or out of date |
| 3 | Date of service | Device timestamp | Overnight visits recorded on the wrong date |
| 4 | Location of service delivery | GPS, client’s landline, or a fixed device in the home | GPS outside the geofence, or care given in the community without an allowed location |
| 5 | Individual providing the service | Caregiver’s login or ID | Caregiver uses a coworker’s login, or the worker ID isn’t registered with the state |
| 6 | Time the service begins and ends | Check-in and check-out | Forgotten check-out, filled in later without an exception reason |
Why does location fail most often?
States accept different location methods. Mobile GPS compares the caregiver’s position with the client’s address. Telephony checks that the call came from the client’s registered phone. Fixed devices generate a code in the home. When GPS can’t confirm the location (poor signal, apartment buildings, rural addresses), most states let you record an exception with a reason code. What they won’t accept is a pattern of exceptions with no explanation.
Services delivered outside the home, like escorting a client to an appointment, have their own rules. Some states allow a community location; others require check-in at the home before leaving.
Why do start and end times cost the most?
Billed units have to match the EVV times. If EVV shows 2 hours 40 minutes, you can’t bill 3 hours. See Medicaid billing units. Forgotten check-outs are the most common problem. Fix them with a correction that records the real time, the reason and who approved it, as soon as possible after the visit.
What does “verified” mean to the state?
The aggregator usually checks each visit against:
- an active authorization for that client, service and date,
- a caregiver ID registered with the state or plan,
- complete check-in and check-out, and
- location within the allowed method.
Visits that pass go to claims. Visits that fail go back to you as exceptions.
How Caregiver Scheduling handles this
The service, client and caregiver come from the scheduled visit, so caregivers don’t pick codes. Check-in and check-out are geofenced at the client’s address, and when GPS can’t confirm, the caregiver gives an override reason that the office reviews. The clock-out step won’t finish until required tasks are marked done or not applicable. $199/month for up to 10 caregivers or $299/month for up to 50, free for 30 days.
FAQ
What are the six EVV requirements? Type of service, person receiving it, date, location, person providing it, and start and end time.
Does EVV require GPS? No. GPS is one method. States also accept telephony and fixed devices.
Is a caregiver signature required? Not by the Cures Act. Some states or plans ask for a client signature or confirmation.