The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) has posted an updated resource regarding Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). This Missouri EVV Aggregator Solution Provider Training provides a brief overview of EVV and offers instruction regarding accessing the EVV Aggregator Solution (EAS).

 

This resource is specific to Missouri EVV requirements and is recommended for new EAS users as well as existing users who wish to expand their knowledge of the system.

 

Refer to the MHD EVV program page for additional information.

 

If you have questions regarding EVV or the new resource, contact Ask.EVV@dss.mo.gov.

 

For additional information on claims, resources, and more, register for an Education and Training provider webinar

The Consumer Directed Services (CDS) regulation 19 CSR 15-8, chapters 2 & 4 have been updated.

The new regulation goes into effect February 29, 2024.  CDS providers are required to read through and educate themselves on the updated chapters.

MMAC will update the CDS Proposal for Contract once the new regulation goes into effect.

Please stay tuned for upcoming information regarding the new Certified CDS Manager training and testing process.

State and federal regulations (13 CSR 65-2 and 42 CFR 455.460) require Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) to collect an application fee from all new and revalidating “Institutional” Medicaid providers. “Individual” providers such as physicians, dentists and other individual non-physician practitioners are not required to pay the application fee.


The application fee increased to $709.00 on January 1, 2024.



Read more about the application fee and hardship waivers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with the States, is measuring improper payments in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs under their Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) process.

 

CMS and its PERM contractors will be sending records requests directly to Missouri Medicaid/CHIP providers for claims billed during state fiscal year 2024. Additional information about the PERM program is addressed on the CMS PERM website (https://www.cms.gov/PERM). Refer to the “Providers” link on the website.

 

Federal regulations require that Medicaid/CHIP providers submit the medical record documentation to support claims for Medicaid/CHIP services to CMS upon request. Providing medical records for Medicaid/CHIP patients does not violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Patient authorization is not required to respond to this request. CMS and its contractors will comply with the Privacy Act federal regulations governing the sharing and transmission of Protected Health Information (PHI).

 

Questions regarding the PERM audit may also be directed to the State PERM representative Joyce Chandler at 573-751-7993 or please email MMAC.PERMAUDITS@DSS.MO.GOV.

 

Currently enrolled Adult Day Care providers and Doorways (AIDS Waiver) are REQUIRED to attend a one-hour training session hosted by MMAC at 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The training will be held virtually via WebEx and registration is required prior to joining the session.

 

HCBS Settings Requirement Nov 1, 2023 – Link to Register WebEx


The training will cover updates to the HCBS Settings Requirements, survey forms, training of employees, a new provider assurance form and how to properly fill them out. At least one person (Director, owner, or a managing employee) from each provider must attend the session to stay in compliance with enrollment.

 

Information on the HCBS Setting Requirements , initial findings and assessment/survey can be found on the MMAC website, HCBS provider main page.

 

https://mmac.mo.gov/providers/provider-enrollment/home-and-community-based-services/ 

On October 15, 2023, the Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) online provider enrollment application portal for newly enrolling providers will have a new look. For those familiar with the eMomed Revalidation portal, you may recognize the design and functionality. In addition to the design upgrade, providers will be able to retrieve their forgotten PIN numbers without having to contact the eMomed Help Desk; there will be identity and security questions. Providers will also be able to save and retrieve their applications, reprint their application confirmation page, and access and reprint an application after it has been submitted.

Due to the new changes to the In Home Service Standards 19 CSR 15-7.021, Personal Care Services 13 CSR 70-91.010 and Mo HealthNet Provider Manuals for Personal Care and Aged and Disabled Waiver Programs; MMAC has updated the In Home Service Proposal for Contract, Designated Manager testing and links to the new manuals.

These new regulations went into effect September 1, 2023.  Providers are required to read through and educate themselves on the updated regulations.

Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) Fee Increase: 

 

Effective May 1, the FCSR registration fee will increase to $15.00 due to the Highway Patrol’s name-based criminal record search fee increasing to $15. The fee increase results from statute and is required by the Patrol. The registration and background screening system (BSEES) is being updated to charge the new fee for online registrations, along with a credit card processing fee of $0.55, for a total of $15.55. Click for more information about the FCSR.

 

 

EVV Requirements

 

Reminder for personal care service providers of the requirements to utilize Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) and to draw attention to common data transmittal errors identified within the EVV Aggregator Solution (EAS). This information can also be found in MO HealthNet’s Provider Bulletin issued April 21, 2023, Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)

 

All providers of Medicaid funded personal care services have been required to use EVV to document services delivered to participants in the home since January 1, 2021. Effective November 8, 2021, EVV systems supporting Missouri providers were required to exchange visit data with EAS hosted by Sandata Technologies.

 

Providers are responsible for ensuring the EVV vendor they contract with is sending timely and accurate visit data to EAS. All providers are expected to log into EAS a minimum of once weekly to verify accuracy of their visit data. Agencies with no data in EAS are out of compliance with EVV requirements and are subject to sanctions or termination of their state contract.

 

If providers are unable to log in to EAS to view visit data, or are able to log in but are not seeing visit data then providers must verify the following steps have been completed:

 

• The provider has registered their EVV vendor with Sandata
• The provider has completed online Learning Management System (LMS) training
• The EVV vendor is sending visit data on behalf of the provider

 

Failure to complete each of these steps will result in non-compliance with EVV requirements.

 

This comprehensive resource is available at EVV Resource and is a beneficial tool in understanding EVV expectations.

 

Common Transmittal Issues

 

The state has identified common issues occurring with visit data being sent to EAS. These errors may cause visits to be flagged for audit purposes. The following bullet points detail some of the issues/errors:

 

Invalid member DCN and date of birth combination. The DCN and date of birth sent to EAS must match what is contained in the state record which can be verified on eMOMED. If these data elements do not match, visits will be rejected.

 

Incorrect linking of procedure code to provider account. Providers must have a separate unique EAS account for each type of service they provide, such as state plan, aged and disabled waiver, or services for the developmentally disabled. These accounts must contain only the related service. See the service table available at https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/pdf/pcs-provider-services-reference-table.pdf for details regarding which services (procedure codes) are to be submitted to each unique account.

 

Incorrect entry of employee information. The Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) number is a unique identifier for an individual caregiver. Each employee must be entered into EAS with only one FCSR number. It is not acceptable to enter any number other than what has been assigned by FCSR or use the same number for multiple caregivers. For more information about FCSR, see https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/pdf/bulletin44-09.pdf.

 

Frequency of visit data transmission. The state requires visit data be sent to EAS in as near to real time as possible. Providers should send visit records to their EVV vendor at least once a day even if they are incomplete. EVV vendors must send all records to EAS at least once daily. Visits submitted on a weekly or monthly basis are out of compliance with EVV requirements.

 

Documentation of manual visits or adjustments. Any time an EVV visit is changed for any reason or submitted manually, EAS should reflect the type of change and the name of the individual who made the update or manual entry in the visit history. It is not appropriate for the visit to state ‘system’ or other generic verbiage to indicate who took the action. This information is necessary for audit purposes and required by state regulations.

 

Incorrect entry of call times. The Call In and Call Out times reflected in EAS should be entered by the caregiver at the time of the visit. Using a schedule with Start and Stop times does not meet EVV requirements and results in a non-compliant visit.

 

Providers are responsible for making sure EVV vendors are doing what is required of them by having an authorized staff member log into EAS to ensure the following requirements are met:

 

Visit data exists for all members that have received Medicaid funded EVV services. All visits should be in a verified status.

 

For information about how to log in to EAS, contact MOAltEVV@sandata.com.

 

EVV related bulletins, administrative rules and other announcements are available on MO HealthNet’s website at https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/electronic-visit-verification.htm.

 

APPLICABILITY

 

The information in this bulletin applies to the MO HealthNet (MHD) fee-for-service program and may apply to the MHD managed care program, as well.  MHD’s fee-for-service policies set the basic coverage policies for benefits and limitations in the managed care program.

 

The managed care health plans have additional flexibilities in operating their respective programs such as determining which services require prior authorization, and details required for claims submission. Certain services, such as pharmacy, are “carved out” of managed care and will be paid through the fee-for-service program.

 

To ensure your understanding of this bulletin’s applicability to each managed care health plan, please contact your health plan directly, or contact MHD.MCCommunications@dss.mo.gov.

 

MO HealthNet (MHD) is offering FREE continuing education (CE) sessions for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Each session is created and presented by Relias and all are available as live webinars and will be recorded so you can earn continuing education credit on your own time.

 

The list of topics and schedule is on the MO HealthNet Provider Training Calendar. You do not need to be a MO HealthNet provider to register. As trainings are confirmed, speakers and registration links will be added to the MO HealthNet Provider Training calendar.

 

To register: visit MHD Provider Trainings to review MO HealthNet Division Education and Training Resources and to register for additional trainings offered by MHD. Click on the Webinar Topic link of your choice for details and registration.

 

Each session is for 1.0 CME hour for physicians, 1.0 CPE for pharmacists, and 1.0 contact hour for nurses.

 

In support of improving patient care, Relias LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Webinar must be attended in its entirety and attendees must complete the evaluation and post-test in order to receive the certificate of completion.

 

Relias helps healthcare leaders, human service providers, and their staff take better care of people, lower costs, reduce risk, and achieve better results.