DHS to hold video conference to discuss new federally-required system verifying home health and personal care visits

The North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) is giving individuals and service providers one more opportunity, on Nov. 7, to participate in a public input meeting on the implementation of an electronic visit verification (EVV) system complying with the federal 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act). 

The agency held similar public meetings in Bismarck and Fargo in late October. Interested individuals can participate in the video conference meeting at specific sites on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Central Time. The agenda is the same as prior meetings. After a brief introduction, staff will share an update on the implementation process and timeline and will invite public comments.

Video conference sites include: DHS Prairie Hills Plaza, Prairie and Rose Rooms, 1237 W. Divide Ave., Suite 1A, Bismarck; Lake Region Human Service Center, East conference room, 200 Hwy. 2 W., Devils Lake; Badlands Human Service Center, basement conference room, 200 Pulver Hall, Dickinson; Southeast Human Service Center, Prairie Rose Room, 2624 Ninth Ave. S., Fargo; Northeast Human Service Center, Room 5E, 151 S. Fourth St., Suite 401, Grand Forks; South Central Human Service Center, Room 124, 520 Third St. N.W., Jamestown; North Central Human Service Center, Room 411, 1015 S. Broadway, Minot; and Northwest Human Service Center, Room A-200, 316 Second Ave. W., Williston.

EVV systems electronically verify, by a phone or computer-based system, that personal care, home health and other home and community-based services are being provided. The system is also required to document the actual time a provider begins and ends a service. Passed by Congress in 2016, the federal law impacts Medicaid and long-term services and supports. More information is online at www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr34/BILLS-114hr34enr.pdf.

The department wants to hear from people who receive in-home care and support services, family caregivers, and individuals and agencies that provide personal care and/or home health services funded by Medicaid through the State Plan or one of the state’s waivers.