The federal government has mandated that Medicaid-funded home care programs begin using Electronic Visit Verification systems (EVV) to monitor the care we provide our clients starting January 1, 2019. How such a system would work to track IHSS workers is still unclear, as California is still planning how it will implement EVV. UDW is monitoring the development of a possible EVV program very closely, and will be working with the state every step of the way to ensure that the rights of our members and clients are protected. Read more.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV): What you need to know right now
The provision requires states that have Medicaid-funded personal care services programs like IHSS and WPCS to adopt an Electronic Visit Verification system (EVV) in their programs starting January 1, 2019, or face a reduction in federal funding.
EVV systems electronically monitor the care we provide to our clients in their homes, including:
- Location of service delivery
- Date of service
- Start and end times of the service
- Type of service performed
- Individual providing the service
- Individual receiving the service
The California Department of Social Services is currently working on how it might implement EVV in our state, and our union and other stakeholders have submitted our formal opposition to the implementation of EVV in California.
A lot of the details about how EVV will impact IHSS providers and our clients (what happens if you live with your client? What if you forgot to “check in”? What if you don’t have internet access?) have yet to be addressed by the state, but there are some things you should know:
California’s EVV plan is under consideration
The federal government is giving states a lot of leeway in how they implement Electronic Visit Verification. This means that there is still time to have a say, and UDW intends to do just that. We have been attending stakeholder meetings and will keep caregivers updated on the latest developments.
There may be legal challenges to EVV
EVV may violate existing laws, which could block its implementation in California. We are calling on the state to carefully examine the legality of EVV before it takes any steps to implement a system.
EVV will be expensive
We are calling on the state to carefully weigh the ongoing costs of implementing and maintaining an EVV system versus the potential loss of federal funding. It is possible, based on the sheer size of the IHSS and WPCS programs, that the costs simply don’t outweigh the benefits.Many UDW caregivers and our clients oppose EVV and for good reason: our jobs are hard enough without having to add another layer of reporting and oversight. That’s why UDW will be involved every step of the way in the planning and implementation of any EVV program to make sure that caregivers’ and our clients’ rights are protected.
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By generating hundreds of calls and letters to representatives and turning out for protests, UDW members fought every repeal effort that would cut Medicaid, which funds IHSS. But now a budget resolution currently making its way through Congress could repeal health care in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. And the White House has engaged in sabotage of the ACA by stopping subsidy payments to states and making it easier for insurers to offer low-coverage “junk insurance” plans. UDW will continue to fight every threat to our health care and IHSS—stay tuned.
Join AFSCME’s new Facebook group just for home care workers like us
To bring home care workers together, AFSCME has set up a home care Facebook page for members of its affiliate unions like UDW. This is an opportunity to learn more about home care across the country and how providers in other states deal with the caregiving problems we all have, as well as how they work together to get things done. Go here to sign up for the AFSCME Home Care page. And, if you haven’t already, make sure to like UDW on Facebook!
New members-only benefit! Save up to 55% on hotels with HotelStorm
With your UDW and AFSCME membership, you can now save up to 55% on over 400,000 hotels worldwide — from big-name brands to modern boutiques. Search city and dates, and sort by rating, price or distance to find the deal that’s best for you. Simply visit www.HotelStorm.com/AFSCME and, if prompted for an access code, use ‘AFSCME’ to start your search.
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Online timesheets now available to all UDW providers
UDW fought for an electronic timesheet option to make our lives easier and get paid faster. This year, our hard work paid off and, as of October 10, all UDW providers are able to enroll in the new online timesheet option! If you have questions about how online timesheets work and how to use them, watch this video from UDW or the online trainings available from the California Department of Social Services.---
UDW members continue to fight to #ProtectOurCare
Multiple attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) in Congress have failed, due in large part to organized opposition to repeal by seniors, low-income people, people with disabilities, and their supporters.By generating hundreds of calls and letters to representatives and turning out for protests, UDW members fought every repeal effort that would cut Medicaid, which funds IHSS. But now a budget resolution currently making its way through Congress could repeal health care in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. And the White House has engaged in sabotage of the ACA by stopping subsidy payments to states and making it easier for insurers to offer low-coverage “junk insurance” plans. UDW will continue to fight every threat to our health care and IHSS—stay tuned.
Join AFSCME’s new Facebook group just for home care workers like us
To bring home care workers together, AFSCME has set up a home care Facebook page for members of its affiliate unions like UDW. This is an opportunity to learn more about home care across the country and how providers in other states deal with the caregiving problems we all have, as well as how they work together to get things done. Go here to sign up for the AFSCME Home Care page. And, if you haven’t already, make sure to like UDW on Facebook!
New members-only benefit! Save up to 55% on hotels with HotelStorm
With your UDW and AFSCME membership, you can now save up to 55% on over 400,000 hotels worldwide — from big-name brands to modern boutiques. Search city and dates, and sort by rating, price or distance to find the deal that’s best for you. Simply visit www.HotelStorm.com/AFSCME and, if prompted for an access code, use ‘AFSCME’ to start your search.
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Connect with UDWA:
United Domestic Workers of America
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