Electronic Visit Verification Michigan: EVV for Home Help Caregivers

You just got approved as a paid caregiver under Michigan's Home Help Program, and now the paperwork mentions "EVV" — Electronic Visit Verification. Nobody explained what it is, how to clock in, or what happens if you forget. EVV is a federal mandate under the 21st Century Cures Act that Michigan implemented for all Medicaid-funded personal care services, and getting it wrong means delayed or denied payments.

What EVV Tracks

Every time you provide paid care under the Home Help Program, MI Choice Waiver, or other Medicaid-funded personal care programs, the EVV system must record:

• Who provided the service (your caregiver ID)
• Who received the service (the Medicaid recipient)
• What service was provided (service type code)
• When the service started and ended (clock-in and clock-out timestamps)
• Where the service was delivered (location verification)

This data replaces paper timesheets and is used by MDHHS and the Fiscal Intermediary to authorize caregiver payments.

How to Clock In and Out

Michigan's EVV system offers multiple check-in methods:

Telephony (landline verification): Call a toll-free number from the recipient's home phone at the start and end of each shift. The system uses the caller ID from the landline to verify location. This is the simplest method for caregivers who aren't comfortable with smartphone apps.

Mobile app: Download the designated EVV app to your smartphone. Clock in when you arrive and clock out when you leave. The app uses GPS to verify you're at the recipient's home. GPS data is used only for location verification — it doesn't track your movements outside of clock-in/clock-out.

Fixed device: Some programs install a small device in the recipient's home that the caregiver taps or swipes a card on at the start and end of each visit.

Your regional waiver agency or Home Help coordinator will tell you which method to use — it varies by program and region.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Forgetting to clock in before starting care: If you realize mid-shift that you forgot, clock in immediately — a partial record is better than none. Contact your coordinator to correct the start time.

Clocking in from the wrong location: If you're providing care somewhere other than the recipient's primary home (a doctor's office, hospital, family member's house), notify your coordinator in advance. The EVV system may flag the location mismatch.

Not clocking out: An open shift without a clock-out creates a billing error. The system may default to zero hours or flag the entire visit for manual review, delaying your pay.

Having someone else clock in for you: This is fraud. Even if a family member is "covering" part of a shift, each caregiver must use their own credentials for the hours they personally worked.

What Happens If You Don't Use EVV

Non-compliance with EVV can result in:

• Delayed payments: Claims without matching EVV data are held for manual review
• Denied payments: Repeated missing EVV records can lead to claim denials
• Provider enrollment issues: Persistent non-compliance can trigger review of your CHAMPS enrollment status

MDHHS provides a grace period and technical support for new caregivers learning the system. If you're struggling with the technology, contact your program coordinator — they can walk you through the process and often have in-person training sessions.

EVV and Family Caregivers

Family member caregivers paid through the Home Help Program or MI Choice Self-Determination Option must use EVV just like any other paid provider. There's no exemption for family caregivers. The system verifies that you actually provided the authorized hours at the designated location, which protects both you and the program from billing disputes.

For the complete Home Help caregiver enrollment process — from CHAMPS registration through background checks, pay rates, and EVV setup — see the Michigan Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide.

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