Georgia Medicaid Electronic Visit Verification (EVV): A Complete Guide to Cures Act Mandates, Required Data Elements, and Georgia Implementation

When a Georgia personal care aide arrives at an elderly client's home to help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders, the first thing she now does, before touching the kitchen sink or putting on disposable gloves, is open a mobile app on her phone, log in, select the client, and tap a button that captures the date, time, location (via GPS), her identity as the worker, and the type of service she is about to provide. At the end of the visit, she repeats the process to clock out. The visit data flows from her phone to the agency's electronic visit verification (EVV) vendor, from the vendor to the state aggregator, and from the aggregator to the Georgia Department of Community Health and the relevant Medicaid payer. Without that EVV record, the agency cannot bill Medicaid for the visit, and the federal government can withhold matching funds from the state. This guide covers Georgia electronic visit verification end to end. The framework is not local Georgia policy. It is a federal mandate under Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act that now governs every Medicaid-paid in-home personal care or home health visit across the country.

The federal authority is Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act, which added a new subsection to Section 1903 of the Social Security Act requiring states to use electronic visit verification for Medicaid-funded personal care services and home health care services. The statute specifies a minimum set of data elements per visit: type of service, individual receiving the service, date of service, location of service delivery, individual providing the service, and the time the service begins and ends. The statute also provides for federal financial participation reductions for non-compliant states, with reductions escalating quarter by quarter and capped at one percent of federal match per fiscal year. CMS state Medicaid director letters and informational bulletins set out the implementation guidance, and the HHS Office of Inspector General audits state compliance and has issued reports identifying implementation gaps.

This guide translates Georgia electronic visit verification for Georgia families, paid caregivers, family caregivers under self-direction, providers, and advocates. It explains the federal mandate and how it reaches Georgia, the required data elements, the three EVV models states can choose from and Georgia's open-vendor approach, which Georgia services and waivers are covered (ICWP, CCSP, SOURCE, NOW, COMP, GAPP HCBS waiver services, State Plan home health, EPSDT pediatric personal care, and self-directed services under Section 1915(j)), how caregivers actually clock in and out across mobile apps, telephony, and fixed visit verification devices, how manual edits work when clock-in or clock-out fails, the HIPAA Privacy Rule protections that apply to EVV data, the OIG audit framework, the common access and workflow issues including rural broadband limitations and caregiver technology access, and what beneficiaries and family members can do when EVV-related problems affect access to care. Brevy publishes this guide because EVV is invisible to most Georgia families until it disrupts a paid caregiver's shift, and yet the framework now governs millions of visits a year across the state.

By Brevy Care Team · Last verified May 12, 2026

• Georgia electronic visit verification is mandated by Section 12006 of the 21st Century Cures Act, which added a new subsection to Section 1903 of the Social Security Act. EVV applies to Medicaid-funded personal care services and home health care services, with the personal care deadline preceding the home health care deadline (verify current implementation status with Georgia DCH).
• EVV systems must capture a defined set of data elements per visit: type of service, individual receiving service, date of service, location of service delivery, individual providing service, and time of service (start and end). Non-compliance triggers quarterly federal financial participation reductions, capped at one percent per fiscal year.
• States choose among three EVV models: provider choice, state-managed, or open vendor. Georgia operates an open-vendor approach with Mobile Caregiver+ (Conduent / Tellus / Netsmart) as the state aggregator platform, while permitting providers to use approved third-party EVV systems that integrate with the aggregator.
• EVV applies in Georgia to personal care services across HCBS waivers (ICWP, CCSP, SOURCE, NOW, COMP, GAPP), State Plan home health services, EPSDT pediatric personal care, and self-directed services under Section 1915(j), including services delivered by family caregivers under self-direction. The same six data elements apply for every paid Medicaid visit.
• HIPAA Privacy Rule protections apply to EVV data. Beneficiaries can contact DCH, the ADRC at 1-866-552-4464, Disability Rights Georgia, or Georgia Legal Services with EVV-related concerns.

The Cures Act mandate and Georgia electronic visit verification

The 21st Century Cures Act was a sprawling federal health law. Among its many provisions was Section 12006, which added a new requirement to Medicaid: electronic visit verification for personal care services and home health care services. The purpose, as documented in the legislative history, was to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid-funded in-home services by ensuring that every billed visit corresponds to an actual visit, that the visit occurred at the right time, in the right place, by the right worker, for the right recipient, providing the right service.

A new subsection of Section 1903 of the Social Security Act, added by Section 12006, codifies the mandate. The statute defines:

Personal care services (PCS), broadly meaning services provided in the home or community by a paid worker to help a Medicaid beneficiary with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, ambulation) or instrumental activities of daily living (meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, accompaniment to medical appointments). PCS is defined further in federal Medicaid regulations.

Home health care services (HHCS), meaning skilled nursing, home health aide, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical supplies provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency under physician orders. HHCS is defined in the home health regulations under the federal Medicaid framework.

The mandate covers both fee-for-service Medicaid and managed care Medicaid. The mandate covers both consumer-directed and agency-directed services. The mandate covers HCBS waiver services and state plan services. Anywhere a Medicaid dollar pays for personal care or home health, EVV applies.

The required data elements

The statute specifies a minimum set of data elements per visit:

The type of service performed. This is captured through a specific service code (HCPCS code or state-specific code) and description. For example, a personal care services code or a home health aide code identifies what service was rendered.

The individual receiving the service. The Medicaid beneficiary's identity is verified through the EVV system, typically by selecting the recipient from the caregiver's scheduled visits or by entering the recipient's Medicaid ID.

The date of service. The system captures the calendar date of the visit.

The location of service delivery. This is the most technically complex element. Captured through GPS (for mobile apps), caller ID and registered phone number (for telephony), or device ID (for FVV devices). The location must indicate that the visit occurred at the recipient's home or another approved location for community-based services.

The individual providing the service. The specific caregiver or worker is identified, typically through login credentials, biometric authentication, or fob/badge scan.

The time of service. Both the time the service begins (clock-in) and the time the service ends (clock-out) are captured.

These are the federal minimums. States can require additional data elements (tasks performed, recipient signature/approval, supervisor verification, etc.). The federal minimums are not exhaustive but cannot be reduced.

Federal penalty structure

The statute creates a financial penalty for non-compliant states: federal financial participation (FFP) reductions for Medicaid expenditures on PCS and HHCS that are not EVV-verified.

The penalty schedule escalates quarter by quarter: a small reduction in the first quarter of non-compliance, climbing in each successive quarter, and capped at one percent per fiscal year. The cap means a state cannot lose more than one percent of its federal match for PCS and HHCS in a given year due to EVV non-compliance.

A state that has not implemented EVV by the deadline but is making "good faith effort" toward implementation can receive an extension. CMS issued guidance on the good faith effort criteria, requiring documented planning, stakeholder engagement, and concrete implementation milestones (verify current criteria in the latest CMS EVV guidance).

Georgia has implemented EVV for personal care services. Home health care services followed under the staggered federal phase-in. For current Georgia compliance status, refer to DCH's EVV program page.

Three EVV models

States choose among three architectural models for EVV implementation:

The Provider Choice Model lets each provider (each home care agency or each self-direction financial management services agency) select its own EVV vendor that meets state certification requirements. The state accepts data from any certified vendor. This model leverages providers' existing systems but requires an aggregator to consolidate data across vendors for state reporting.

The State Managed Model has the state contract with a single EVV vendor that all providers must use. This achieves data consistency and a single vendor relationship but can force providers off existing systems that have been working well.

The Open Vendor Model has the state approve multiple vendors that meet certification requirements; providers choose from the approved list. The state operates an aggregator (or contracts with an aggregator vendor) that consolidates data from all approved vendors into a single repository for state oversight. This combines provider flexibility with state data visibility.

Georgia operates an open-vendor approach. DCH contracts with Mobile Caregiver+ (Conduent / Tellus / Netsmart) as the state aggregator platform, and providers may use the state platform directly or an approved third-party EVV solution that meets federal requirements and integrates with the aggregator. Visit data transmits to the aggregator and on to DCH and to the relevant payer (CMO or fee-for-service).

Georgia's vendor landscape

Georgia uses the Mobile Caregiver+ platform, formerly the Tellus product, operated by Conduent and Netsmart, as the state aggregator and as the default EVV solution for providers who do not run a separate certified vendor. Providers using a third-party solution must integrate with the aggregator to transmit data into the state system. Vendors commonly used by Georgia providers, alongside or instead of the state platform, include national EVV products in the personal care, home health, and intellectual/developmental disability spaces. Providers select an approved vendor that fits their existing systems, workflows, and budgets, then verify integration with the state aggregator. Providers' EVV vendor choices are typically disclosed to families during care plan onboarding. For current customer support contact information, refer to DCH's EVV program page.

How Georgia electronic visit verification works during a visit

The typical EVV workflow:

Before the visit, the caregiver opens the EVV app and reviews her scheduled visit (recipient name, address, scheduled time, service type, task list if applicable).

The caregiver travels to the recipient's home.

Upon arrival, the caregiver clocks in via the EVV system. For mobile apps, this means opening the app, selecting the visit, and tapping "clock in." The app captures the current time, the current GPS location, and the caregiver's identity. For telephony, the caregiver dials a toll-free number from the recipient's home phone. The system uses caller ID to verify that the call originated from the recipient's registered phone number. The caregiver enters their employee ID via phone keypad. For FVV (fixed visit verification) devices, the caregiver swipes a key fob through the device installed in the recipient's home. The device records the time and the caregiver's ID.

The caregiver provides the scheduled services. Personal care services include activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Home health services include skilled nursing, therapy, or home health aide services per the physician's plan of care.

Some EVV systems prompt the caregiver to document tasks completed (bathing assistance, meal preparation, etc.) during or after the visit. Task documentation may be optional or required depending on the provider and vendor.

At the end of the visit, the caregiver clocks out via the same method as clock-in. The clock-out captures the current time and location.

The EVV vendor (or the state platform directly) transmits the visit data to the aggregator, which forwards to DCH and the relevant payer. The visit data becomes linked to the claim for the visit. Claims without matching EVV data may be denied or held pending verification.

Manual edits and exceptions

In practice, electronic clock-in or clock-out fails for a range of reasons: the caregiver forgot her phone, the phone battery died, GPS could not acquire a signal, the recipient's phone is out of service, the FVV device was not working, the system was down, the caregiver started before the system was ready, the caregiver forgot to clock out at the end of the shift.

When electronic capture fails, EVV systems allow manual edits. Manual edits require:

A justification entered by the caregiver or supervisor explaining why the manual edit is needed (forgot phone, GPS failed, system outage, late arrival caught after the fact, etc.).

Supervisor approval. Most EVV systems require a supervisor or designated staff member to approve manual edits to prevent caregiver self-editing of timesheets.

Documentation of who edited, when, and what changed. The audit trail must show the original system state and the edit history.

Monitoring against excessive editing. State and federal audits flag providers with high rates of manual editing because excessive manual editing can indicate either workflow problems or fraudulent visit padding.

DCH guidance establishes thresholds for manual edits. Providers with edit rates above certain percentages are subject to audit review. Caregivers who routinely require manual edits may need additional training or technology support.

Where Georgia electronic visit verification applies

EVV applies to:

Personal care services under HCBS waivers, including ICWP (Independent Care Waiver Program for adults with severe physical disabilities), CCSP (Community Care Services Program for elderly and disabled adults), SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment for elderly and disabled adults with intensive case management), NOW (New Options Waiver for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with less intensive support needs), COMP (Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with more intensive support needs), and GAPP (Georgia Pediatric Program for medically fragile children).

State Plan home health services covered under the federal Medicaid home health benefit, including skilled nursing, home health aide, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical supplies delivered in the home.

EPSDT pediatric personal care services for children under 21 when medically necessary as part of the comprehensive EPSDT benefit.

Self-directed services under Section 1915(j), including services delivered by family member caregivers paid through Consumer Direction programs.

EVV does not apply to services delivered in settings other than the recipient's home or community, including adult day health centers, group homes, day program services in licensed facilities, hospice services (separate Medicare/Medicaid framework with its own visit documentation), hospital services, and nursing facility services. EVV also does not apply to most CMO-administrative services such as care coordination delivered telephonically.

Self-directed services and family caregivers

Section 1915(j) self-directed personal assistance allows beneficiaries to act as the employer of their personal care workers, including certain family members. Self-direction is used in Georgia HCBS waivers, particularly ICWP, NOW, and COMP. Common arrangements include adult children caring for elderly parents, siblings caring for siblings with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and parents caring for adult children with developmental disabilities. Note: Georgia categorically bars spouses, parents of minor-child Medicaid recipients, legal guardians, conservators, and persons holding power of attorney from being paid as the primary family caregiver across CCSP PSCD, SOURCE participant direction, ICWP self-directed Personal Support Services, and NOW/COMP Family Hire. Only VA programs and private pay reach those relationships in Georgia.

When the paid caregiver is a permitted family member, EVV still applies. The federal mandate does not distinguish between agency-employed caregivers and consumer-employed family caregivers. The same data elements must be captured for every paid visit.

For family caregivers, EVV can feel intrusive. The family relationship overlaps with the worker-recipient relationship. The geolocation capture happens in what is, for some family caregivers, their own home (when the caregiver lives with the recipient). The clock-in/out workflow can feel transactional in a relationship that is also deeply personal.

Several mitigation strategies are commonly used:

Simplified mobile interfaces designed for family caregivers reduce friction.

Telephony-based EVV from the recipient's home phone (or the shared home phone in cases where caregiver and recipient share a residence) provides a less obtrusive workflow than mobile apps.

Pre-scheduled visit templates allow family caregivers to clock in and out for predictable visits without re-entering recipient details each time.

Financial management services agencies (FMSAs) that process family caregivers' payroll typically provide EVV technology support, including device provisioning, training, and troubleshooting.

Despite these mitigations, family caregivers and their case managers periodically encounter EVV-related challenges that require manual edits, technical support calls, and patience.

Rural broadband and technology access

Georgia has substantial rural geography. Many counties have limited cellular coverage, slow broadband, or both. EVV mobile applications require reliable cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity for real-time data submission. In rural Georgia, this can fail.

Common workarounds for rural EVV:

Telephony-based EVV requires only a working landline (or cellular voice connection) at the recipient's home. The caregiver dials a toll-free number; caller ID verifies the location. This works wherever phone service exists, even in cellular dead zones.

Fixed visit verification (FVV) devices are small battery-powered devices installed in the recipient's home. The caregiver swipes a key fob through the device to record visit times. The device stores visit data and transmits when next connected (typically when the device is brought to a location with cellular or Wi-Fi). FVV is useful for recipients in rural areas with no phone service.

Offline mobile capture allows the EVV app to record visit data locally on the caregiver's phone and sync when connectivity is restored. The app must be configured for offline mode in advance.

Cellular hotspots or signal boosters can be deployed at recipient homes in marginal coverage areas. Some agencies provide hotspots to caregivers serving rural recipients.

These workarounds are not perfect. Manual edits may be needed when even backup systems fail. Caregivers serving rural areas may experience higher rates of manual edits than those in urban areas.

Technology access for caregivers is another dimension. Many caregivers, particularly older family caregivers, do not own smartphones or are not comfortable using mobile apps. Solutions include training and onboarding support, switching to telephony or FVV modalities, and FMSA support staff dedicated to caregiver technology assistance.

Privacy and HIPAA

EVV data is protected health information under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The capture, transmission, storage, and use of EVV data must comply with HIPAA requirements:

Authorized users only. EVV data can be accessed by the provider, the payer (DCH, CMO, or PBM), the state aggregator, state oversight units, federal regulators with audit authority, and the beneficiary or their personal representative. Other parties cannot access EVV data without authorization.

Minimum necessary use. EVV data should be accessed only by personnel who need it for treatment, payment, or operations purposes.

Breach notification. If EVV data is breached, HIPAA breach notification requirements apply.

Beneficiary rights. Beneficiaries have the right to receive copies of their EVV records, to request corrections to inaccurate records, to file complaints about EVV-related privacy issues, and to file complaints with the HHS Office for Civil Rights.

Geolocation as PHI. The GPS coordinates and location data captured by EVV are considered protected health information when associated with a Medicaid beneficiary.

OIG audits and federal oversight

The HHS Office of Inspector General audits state EVV implementation. OIG audits have identified common issues:

Data quality problems: missing data elements (most commonly location), incorrect coding, inconsistent service type entries, and time mismatches.

Excessive manual editing without adequate justification.

Provider non-participation: small providers or provider categories not yet onboarded to EVV.

Insufficient state oversight, including limited audit capacity at the state level.

State-vendor coordination challenges, particularly during vendor transitions.

CMS reviews state EVV implementation as part of routine Medicaid oversight, including quarterly reports, state plan amendments, and managed care contract reviews.

For Georgia families, the OIG audit framework is largely invisible but affects state policy development. When audits identify compliance gaps, DCH typically responds with policy and process changes.

Worked examples

Eleanor, 78, Macon: CCSP personal care with mobile EVV

Eleanor is a 78-year-old in Macon receiving CCSP HCBS services after a stroke left her with limited mobility on her left side. Her personal care aide, Linda, comes Monday through Friday for three hours each morning to help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders. Linda works for a Bibb County home care agency that uses a national EVV vendor integrated with the state aggregator. When Linda arrives at Eleanor's home, she opens the vendor's mobile app on her smartphone, taps her scheduled visit with Eleanor, and clocks in. The app captures the time, her GPS location (Eleanor's home address, verified), her caregiver ID, Eleanor's recipient ID, and the personal care service type. Linda then provides her usual care: assists Eleanor with a shower, helps her dress, prepares breakfast, sets out Eleanor's morning medications and verifies she takes them, and tidies the kitchen. Later that morning, Linda taps "clock out" in the app. The visit data is transmitted to the state aggregator and on to DCH. The claim for the morning visit will be linked to this EVV record. On a Thursday in October, Linda forgets her phone at home. She is already at Eleanor's when she realizes it. She calls her supervisor, who advises her to use Eleanor's landline to dial the vendor's telephony backup number. Eleanor's landline number is registered in the system; the call's caller ID verifies the location. Linda enters her employee ID via the phone keypad and the system records her clock-in time. At the end of the visit, she repeats the process to clock out. The supervisor reviews and approves the telephony-based capture as a one-time backup. Eleanor's services continue uninterrupted.

Marcus, 45, Albany: ICWP self-directed care with family caregiver EVV

Marcus is a 45-year-old in Albany with a spinal cord injury from a workplace accident eight years ago. He receives ICWP HCBS services and uses the self-directed option under Section 1915(j). His sister Maria is his paid caregiver. She works providing personal care including bathing, transfers, meal preparation, and medication management. Maria and Marcus live in different houses but in the same county; Maria commutes to Marcus's house for her shifts. Maria's wages are processed through a financial management services agency (FMSA), which provides her EVV technology. Maria uses the EVV mobile app on her smartphone. She clocks in on arrival at Marcus's house, GPS verifies the location, and she clocks out at the end of her shift. Even though Maria is Marcus's sister, the EVV requirement applies because she is a paid Medicaid caregiver. Maria initially found EVV intrusive but understands the rationale: the system protects against billing fraud and creates an auditable record. Marcus's case manager works with the FMSA on any EVV-related issues, including a recent case where Marcus had moved temporarily to his daughter's apartment for two weeks during home repairs. The EVV system had to be updated to recognize the alternative location as an approved community-based service site during that period.

Diana, 82, rural Bulloch County: SOURCE in-home with telephony EVV

Diana lives in rural Bulloch County with her daughter, who works full-time. Diana qualifies for SOURCE HCBS services and receives an aide from a Statesboro-based home care agency. Her aide, Rebecca, drives 25 minutes to Diana's home each weekday morning and provides four hours of personal care. The agency uses a telephony-capable EVV vendor. Diana's home is in a marginal cellular coverage area; Rebecca's GPS-based mobile clock-in occasionally fails to acquire signal. After several failed attempts, the agency configures Diana's account for telephony-based EVV. Rebecca now calls a toll-free number from Diana's landline at the start and end of her shift. Diana's landline number (registered with the agency) verifies the location. The phone-based method works reliably. Diana's daughter, who manages Diana's care from her workplace, monitors visit records through the vendor's web portal, where she can see arrival times, departure times, and tasks completed. When Rebecca is occasionally late due to weather or traffic, the system records the actual arrival, and the agency supervisor and Diana's daughter can review the data.

Jamil, 7, Columbus: GAPP pediatric nursing with EVV

Jamil is a 7-year-old in Columbus with severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity (tracheostomy, feeding tube, frequent suctioning needs). He receives GAPP services including skilled nursing care from a home health agency. Each shift must be captured via EVV. The agency uses a national EVV vendor. Nurses clock in via the mobile app at Jamil's home, provide skilled nursing per the care plan (medication administration, tracheostomy care, suctioning, tube feeding management, position changes, respiratory monitoring), and clock out at the end of shift. The EVV data integrates with the agency's electronic health record system. Jamil's mother appreciates the visit verification because she has had concerns in the past about agency staffing reliability (nurses calling in sick at the last minute, replacement nurses arriving late, occasional gaps in coverage). The EVV record creates an auditable history. When a shift gap occurred recently because a replacement nurse never arrived, Jamil's mother could document the gap through the EVV data and pursue agency accountability.

Aisha, 28, Savannah: home health EVV under State Plan

Aisha is 28 and was hospitalized for two weeks after a car accident. Her physician orders home health upon discharge: skilled nursing for wound care, physical therapy for gait retraining, and occupational therapy for activities of daily living. Home health is covered under the State Plan home health benefit. EVV applies. Aisha's home health agency uses a clinical-focused EVV vendor. Each clinician (the nurse, the PT, and the OT) clocks in and out for each visit via the vendor's mobile app. Aisha's claims are submitted with linked EVV data. By the time Aisha receives her care in 2026, EVV is standard practice across Georgia home health, and her clinicians complete their EVV workflow as a routine part of each visit.

Tasha's mother, 65, Atlanta: COMP host home EVV

Tasha's mother is 65 with Down syndrome and lives in a host home arrangement under COMP (Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The host home provider's direct support professionals (DSPs) clock in and out via an EVV system that is widely used in the I/DD space and also serves as the broader case management and documentation platform. COMP includes various services beyond personal care, including day services and behavioral supports; EVV applies to the personal support hours specifically. Tasha monitors visit records through the vendor's family portal, where she can see when DSPs are present, what tasks they document, and any concerns they note. When an EVV record one week shows a shift that did not match what Tasha's mother described, Tasha contacts the host home agency and the case manager. Investigation reveals a data entry error: the DSP had logged the wrong service type. The record is corrected, and the agency provides additional training to that DSP. Tasha's ability to access the EVV record was essential to identifying and resolving the discrepancy.

Common problems and resolutions

The most common EVV-related problems Georgia families and caregivers experience:

A caregiver cannot clock in because of phone, GPS, or system problems. Resolution: use the backup method (telephony if mobile failed; mobile if telephony failed; FVV if both failed). The agency's EVV support line provides technical assistance. Manual edit with supervisor approval is used when no electronic capture is possible.

The location capture is inaccurate, showing the caregiver was outside the recipient's home boundary. Resolution: provider review of GPS data; manual review and correction; periodic recalibration of geofence boundaries; verification through other contact (phone call to recipient confirming caregiver presence).

The caregiver forgot to clock out and the visit shows an open-ended duration. Resolution: manual edit with supervisor approval; agency review of patterns to identify training needs.

The recipient's address has changed and the EVV system has the old address. Resolution: contact the provider and case manager to update the recipient profile. Visits to the new address may require interim manual edits until the system is updated.

A family caregiver under self-direction has difficulty with the EVV technology. Resolution: contact the FMSA for training and technology support; consider switching to telephony if mobile is challenging; explore alternative simplified workflows.

The provider has changed EVV vendors mid-year and the transition is disruptive. Resolution: agencies should communicate vendor changes in advance to caregivers and beneficiaries; transition assistance and training are essential; manual edits may be needed during the transition period.

Claims are being denied for EVV mismatches. Resolution: agency-level investigation of the EVV-claim integration; correction of data quality issues; resubmission of claims with corrected data.

How beneficiaries and families can engage

EVV is not just a provider compliance issue. Beneficiaries and families have rights and roles:

Right to access EVV records: beneficiaries can request copies of their EVV visit records from the provider. This is part of the HIPAA-protected medical record.

Right to correct inaccurate records: if an EVV record is wrong (visit did not occur as recorded, wrong service type, wrong caregiver), the beneficiary can request correction.

Right to continued services during EVV failures: services should not be denied because of EVV technology problems. If a caregiver is willing and able to provide services but cannot clock in due to system problems, the visit should proceed with manual documentation, and the provider should resolve the EVV issue separately.

Family monitoring: family members can use vendor portals (with appropriate authorization from the beneficiary) to monitor visits. This can help detect missed shifts, late arrivals, and other quality issues.

Advocacy when EVV problems persist: contact the case manager (HCBS waiver participants have case managers through the waiver structure), the ADRC at 1-866-552-4464 to route to the local AAA Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Disability Rights Georgia, or Georgia Legal Services when EVV-related issues are not being resolved at the provider level.

DCH and DBHDD oversight

DCH's HCBS Bureau and EVV compliance unit oversee Georgia's EVV implementation. Responsibilities include vendor certification, state aggregator operations, provider compliance monitoring, data quality reviews, manual edit audits, provider training and support, and beneficiary outreach.

DBHDD operates parallel oversight for NOW and COMP waiver services, which serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DBHDD coordinates with DCH on EVV policy and implementation for I/DD-specific service categories.

Georgia's Care Management Organizations (CMOs) coordinate EVV billing for their managed care populations. CMOs receive EVV data from the state aggregator and use it to validate claims from providers serving CMO members. Note that Georgia's HCBS waivers operate on a fee-for-service basis, not through the CMOs; the Georgia Families CMO panel covers TANF/PeachCare populations, not the waiver populations that account for most Georgia EVV volume. Georgia's 2025 CMO procurement awarded new Georgia Families contracts to a refreshed set of plans, with implementation timing contested in litigation and final go-live for new CMOs potentially in late 2026. For the current CMO panel, refer to DCH.

State Medicaid Director-level decisions on EVV policy (vendor selection, certification standards, manual edit thresholds, audit protocols) are made by DCH leadership with stakeholder input. The state has periodic stakeholder engagement on EVV through provider association meetings, advocacy coalition discussions, and public comment processes.

A few more common questions:

What if my EVV record is wrong? Request correction from the provider. The audit trail will document the original record and the correction. If the provider does not correct, escalate to the case manager, DCH, or your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman via the ADRC at 1-866-552-4464.

Can services be denied because of EVV problems? No. Services should not be denied because of EVV technology problems. If a caregiver is willing and able to provide services but cannot clock in due to system issues, the visit should proceed with manual documentation.

Can I see my own EVV records? Yes. Beneficiaries can request copies of EVV visit records from the provider. Vendor portals often provide family member access with the beneficiary's authorization.

What about beneficiaries' privacy? EVV data is protected health information under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Authorized access only, minimum necessary use, breach notification, and beneficiary rights to access and correct records all apply.

How does EVV interact with CMO managed care? Georgia's CMOs receive EVV data from the state aggregator and use it to validate claims from providers serving CMO members. CMO-enrolled beneficiaries' visits are captured through the same EVV system as fee-for-service visits. Note: HCBS waiver populations are fee-for-service, not CMO-enrolled, so most EVV volume in Georgia flows through fee-for-service billing.

Key contacts

For current state contact lines and program-specific phone numbers, verify against DCH and the Georgia ADRC directories before publishing in a care plan:

Georgia ADRC (statewide hotline routing to the 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging): 1-866-552-4464 Disability Rights Georgia Georgia Legal Services Program Atlanta Legal Aid Society Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) HHS Office for Civil Rights (for HIPAA complaints) 211 Georgia: dial 211

Find personalized help navigating Georgia electronic visit verification at brevy.com.