The benefits of using mobile technology in home health care are numerous. Among the list of benefits for a home health agency is accountability through Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).
Why EVV Matters
Accountability is currently a hot button issue in health care, where many advocacy groups, agencies and health care providers are looking for ways to boost industry integrity and battle the stigma of fraud. The Affordable Care Act is zeroing in on fraud, centralizing claim data dispersed among federal and state agencies to help stop false claims and overpayments. In decades past, a signature on paper was the only way a provider could verify services had been delivered, leaving ample room for errors and opening the door to unscrupulous billing practices.
Mobile EVV with GPS improves accountability and efficiency at the agency level. Visit documentations that were previously completed at the end of the day can now be tracked and completed immediately. Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) assures services are being delivered to care recipients when and where providers claim they are delivering those services.
Using EVV not only provides a proof of visit and services for regulatory compliance but for employee claims, as well. The GPS feature can pinpoint exact locations, helping agencies accurately compile mileage and travel costs. In addition, eliminating the need to transcribe visits at the end of the day saves time and money for the agency.
How can you choose the best EVV platform?
Ensuring the EVV solution you are using at your home health agency is integrated with your current software is critical. In order to maximize efficiency and reduce costs, the EVV system should be automatically recognized by your billing, scheduling and administrative software.
Remember that some EVV systems charge a fee to call a toll free number and some cell phone-based applications charge by the minute and even require you to purchase phones or devices to use the program. Although these fee-per-use services will benefit your agency long term, by reducing the risk of being billed for overpayments and unused services, the true benefit will come from a solution that does not charge extra for EVV and is already integrated into your software platform.
The need for choosing a platform that is HIPAA-compliant should be considered as well. Using a secure system that puts security and protecting the integrity of patient data, particularly with text messaging and email, should be a priority.
Axxess Mobile Home Health App Delivers
The Axxess solution to EVV is a fully-integrated, multi-disciplinary approach. The Axxess mobile app is an extension of the high-satisfaction ranked software offered to home health agencies nationwide, which can be used on any mobile phone or tablet on both Apple iOS and Google Android platforms. To date, over 50,000 home care professionals use Axxess’ software and mobile solutions daily.
Offered at no additional cost, the app allows providers to capture the patient’s signature at the point of care, record the exact date, time and location of visit and schedule and track visits in real time. In addition, because the mobile app is integrated with all aspects of the software, including administrative, billing and scheduling, communication is streamlined and seamless.
The mobile app from Axxess uses advanced encryption systems, GPS and cellular technology to ensure data is accurate and protected. Our HIPAA-complaint messaging systems allow providers to send and receive messages securely. Providers are able to collaborate and communicate anytime and anywhere, allowing them to focus on patient care, not paperwork. Learn more about Axxess’ Electronic Visit Verification
Planning for the Future
As regulatory burdens grow and EVV compliance is required, home health agencies will need to choose the right solution meet their needs. Mobile technology will only further transform the industry, making early adoption of new technologies important for agencies that are poised to grow quickly as more patients choose to receive care in their homes.
