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Illinois Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system transition: January 2025 update

Date: 01/21/25

Meridian is committed to helping our providers navigate the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system transition. Review our roundup of recent EVV transition updates from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and find resources below.

EVV updates summary

  • January 2025: EVV technical assistance guidance
    HFS communicated resources for providers with technical concerns related to EVV. HFS noted that the HHAeXchange Client Portal is the ideal method for obtaining assistance and emphasized the provider agency’s responsibility for timely follow-up to ensure issue resolution. The provider notice issued December 30, 2024, also outlines processes for escalating unresolved concerns and subscribing to HFS email communications related to EVV.

  • November 2024: Introduction of “Know Your Numbers” monthly compliance reports
    Beginning November 15, provider agencies began receiving a monthly email report showing EVV compliance information for the month prior, regardless of whether the provider is using HHAeXchange directly or a third-party system. All EVV data for the prior month must be entered by the 10th of each month for accurate reporting. Learn more in the HFS notice issued November 4, 2024.

  • October 2024: Guidance to HHCS providers delivering services to MMAI enrollees
    HHCS providers are only required to use EVV for services delivered to MMAI enrollees when the services billed are from the HFS Home Health Fee Schedule. In-Home (Homemaker) services are not included. Implementation of EVV for the Illinois Department on Aging remains on hold. Learn more about this guidance in the notice issued October 29, 2024.

  • September 2024: September 30 deadline for providers using third-party vendors, compliance monitoring begins October 31
    All home health care services (HHCS) provider agencies that have elected to use third-party systems for EVV but have not completed integration with the HHAeXchange system by September 30, 2024, must begin using the free HHAeXchange option. Beginning October 31, 2024, HFS will monitor overall HHCS provider agency visit compliance rates and conduct outreach to providers who do not meet compliance targets.

    Read about the updates in the notice issued September 18, 2024.

  • July 2024: Change in caregiver Social Security Number (SSN) requirement
    All caregiver information must be updated to include caregivers’ full nine-digit SSN by October 17, 2024. This applies to agencies using HHAeXchange directly and those transmitting EVV data to HHAeXchange from third-party systems. See more in the notice issued July 26, 2024.

  • July 2024: EVV Go-Live Date for Aging Waiver program delayed
    A delay to the November 1, 2024, EVV Go-Live date for providers in the Persons Who Are Elderly Waiver program was announced via Provider Notice on July 12, 2024. These providers are still encouraged to participate in town hall meetings to increase their preparedness for future implementation.

  • June 2024: Bi-weekly town hall meetings begin
    HFS began hosting regular, bi-weekly town hall meetings to provide technical assistance, address common concerns, and relay state policy updates pertaining to EVV. Recordings and information about future meetings can be found in this notice issued June 7, 2024.

  • May 2024: Issue with rejections for MCO visit data and guidance to providers
    A notice issued May 10, 2024, informed HHCS providers who completed integration with HHAeXchange that they may be experiencing rejections for MCO visit data. Providers have been advised to continue submitting their visits to the EVV Aggregator, and that an update will be provided once the issue is fully resolved.

  • Fall 2023: Initial rollout of EVV transition
    Informational sessions and enrollment access began in 2023. Find these informational resources and a link to the Provider Enrollment Form in the notice issued January 8, 2024.

Background on the EVV transition

Effective December 31, 2023, Illinois implemented the EVV system for several populations, including HHCS providers billing Illinois Medicaid and MMAI Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Providers participating in the Meridian Medicaid Plan, YouthCare, and Medicare-Medicaid Plan must be in compliance with the EVV requirements.

  • Providers were asked to complete enrollment with Illinois’ statewide EVV vendor, HHAeXchange, which records the information defined and required by the 21st Century Cures Act.
  • Read more about the transition, including the providers and agencies affected, in the notice issued June 7, 2024, by HFS.
  • Implementation of the EVV program for the Persons Who are Elderly Waiver program will not Go-Live on November 1, 2024, as previously scheduled. Read more in the notice issued July 12, 2024.

Here to help you navigate this transition

We recognize this is a significant change for many providers. Our Provider Relations team is here to provide support, including the group of specialists who support HCBS Waiver providers in our network. Contact us with questions at Waiver_PR_Team@centene.com.

Waiver providers are also encouraged to register for one of our monthly Waiver Provider Orientation webinars, which offers helpful guidance about the EVV transition.