Electronic Visit Verification: Here’s what Home Health Care Providers need to know in 2019.

A new year is upon us and this means big changes for the healthcare industry.

While we have seen a lot of changes and technological advances in 2019 (in terms of each type of service), this still leaves room for thoughts about where 2020 will be taking us. From changes in regulations to advancements in healthcare tech, there was no shortage of changes over the course of 2019. This could even be a good sign for stakeholders in healthcare companies as it presents the opportunity to increase the value of a company by making simple changes.

In a fast-paced world, this only means that it has paved the way for future advancements to come. We can use this in order to see what needs to be kept in mind so that 2020 can be taken on in the easiest way possible. If you want to be one of the most capable within the industry while upholding a reputation for providing modernized solutions, overlooking healthcare trends like these isn’t an option.

 

The Current State of Electronic Visit Verification in 2020

For over 2 decades, EVV technology was available but it wasn’t embraced as it should’ve been. With a focus on advancing the healthcare industry and eliminating paper time sheets, the United States government has now set forth requirements (that are dependent on the type of service) for health care organizations to adopt the new EVV system. Now that dates are set forth it’s quite easy to see that a higher level of accountability and advanced method of being able to verify services rendered is being embraced.

As of January 1, 2020, those who are providing personal care services funded by Medicaid will be required to use EVV to verify services provided to Medicaid recipients. Then it’s followed by the date of January 1, 2023 which is when Medicaid-funded home health care services are to have EVV in place. This is something that is being rolled out on both, a state level as well as a federal level to reduce the amount of fraud as well as catch fraud as it happens rather than must wait until months or years later. Managed care is one of the types of service that caused this change in legal regulations.

 

Value-Based Healthcare Is Now Upon Us

You can walk through the halls of just about any hospital and overhear discussions of patient satisfaction (or dissatisfaction). Dissatisfied patients and overworked doctors are two things that have plagued the industry for years and it was far from being kept a secret.

Advancements in the use of technology for healthcare was seen to shine a light on fixing this flaw in the industry. This is something that must be looked at from both sides of the fence. It’s the only way to gain an understanding of what it means to the processes used as well as the patient themselves.

Holistic solutions are one of the biggest things that will gain an increased amount of attention. Rather than focusing on the old methods of treatment, providers will also be seen considering holistic treatments as well which could be safer than other methods. On top of the expanded usage of holistic treatment.

Another change will be with how providers will maintain communication with other providers as well as the members of their team. A more streamlined approach is the only way to win. This includes using mobile devices combined with real-time data to make communication more efficient than we have ever seen within the industry.

 

The Shift from Big Data & What’s to Come from It

The healthcare industry has seen a point where big data has enabled new approaches and a new way of seeing things. While we’re seeing the early days of using big data in this field, this has brought us to a point where new sources will help move the industry forward.

Some of these methods include:

  • Automation of certain processes that used to require extensive amounts of resources.
  • Identifying patients which may be at a higher level of risk than others. Service delivery evolved.
  • More efficient procedures will be put into place. Identifying weaknesses now proves strength.
  • Recommending the best treatment options. Think best results for the lowest cost.
  • Seeing where patients think the healthcare provider could improve for a better experience.

This has brought us to a point in the industry many have thought wouldn’t ever come to exist. Anything is possible when great minds work together to advance the industry. It’s a living example of a higher quality care plan and real-time billing. Patients are sure to only benefit from it over the long run.

 

The Need for Private Healthcare Insurance to Change with the Times

With changes in the healthcare landscape happening like they are, the need for private insurance companies to change with the times has come. Real-time data, changes in the world of medical billing, and service delivery improvements are just a few of the contributing factors to an improved care plan. Insurance companies and medical providers need to work together to enhance the way things are done.

In order to provide the most effective treatment plans for patients possible it’s critical that doctors, home care agencies, and hospitals have access to the information that payers have. They’re the only ones with this level of information. The payers need these types of professionals to ensure those they ensure have access to the highest level of care possible by ensuring the implementation of new opportunities that continue to be made available. As you can see, it goes hand in hand.

 

Artificial Intelligence: Will it see a growth in usage during 2020?

Over the next 2-3 years, it’s expected that the use of AI in healthcare will enhance efficiency by bringing a 10%-15% rise in productivity levels. By the end of 2020, it’s expected that the app market will push past $1.7 billion as we see an increase in the usage of mobile devices. The industry is going to see many ways that evolution is taking place in the world of healthcare during 2020.

This furthers the need to embrace the implementation of new tech that comes out as it helps home care agencies, doctors, and hospitals prove that they’re dedicated to evolving the world of healthcare. The areas that will see the most advancements in 2020 are drug discovery, imaging diagnostics, and risk analytics. It’s clear to see the way that’s being paved in our modern world and what kind of benefits it holds for stakeholders willing to invest in forms of technology that advance the industry.

2020 is going to be an exciting year for the healthcare industry and the world of managed care. With EVV paper timesheets will be a thing of the past, and a new EVV system will be embraced by many care organizations and providers. This is just a sample of the breakthroughs the industry will continue to see evolve as time goes on.