What is the required action and deadline for a Brightstar Care franchisee to notify Brightstar Care before their state implements EVV?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ched as Exhibit M.
NOTE 5: Electronic Visit Verification ("EVV") is required by some states when a franchisee participates in certain Medicaid waiver programs. If required by the state, this fee covers the cost of integrating ABS with the state aggregators or third party/ies selected by the state. If any fees are charged to use a state-specified EVV system, that cost is your responsibility. The integration enables the data required to authorize and approve payment to flow automatically between ABS and the state. Without this automation, the state may require the franchisee to enter the data manually on its portal or website. The one-time fee per aggregator covers the initial set-up and testing of the integration. Most states require integration with only one aggregator, while other states might require integration with up to 2 aggregators. The on-going "per record" charge covers the ongoing maintenance costs of supporting the integration and on-going changes required by the state. It is your responsibility to understand your state's EVV requirements and notify us with sufficient lead time to integrate into ABS. You must notify BrightStar Technology no less than 90 days before the state's implementation date, or any subsequent EVV version upgrade dates, to allow sufficient time for integrating ABS and/or updating ABS with EVV version upgrades.
If you notify BrightStar Technology less than 90 days before either your state's implementation date or your state's subsequent EVV version upgrade implementation dates, BrightStar Technology may charge you up to an additional $1,000 for the initial integration, and up to an additional $500 for any subsequent EVV version upgrade, required by the state.
You have the option of using another state EVV provider whom we approve; however, you still must pay us the $1,000 integration fee per aggregator and $500 for each EVV version upgrade required by the state. All other fees required by the third-party provider would be paid directly by you to the third-party provider.
NOTE 6. Insurance Policies. We identify the types and minimum insurance coverage you must carry in our Operations Manual.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 17–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, it is the franchisee's responsibility to understand their state's Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements and to notify BrightStar Technology with sufficient lead time to integrate into the Automated Business System (ABS). Specifically, the franchisee must notify BrightStar Technology no less than 90 days before the state's implementation date, or any subsequent EVV version upgrade dates. This advance notice allows BrightStar Technology adequate time to integrate ABS and/or update ABS with EVV version upgrades.
If a Brightstar Care franchisee fails to provide the required 90 days' notice, BrightStar Technology may charge a late notice fee. This fee could be up to an additional $1,000 for the initial integration and up to an additional $500 for any subsequent EVV version upgrade required by the state. This highlights the importance of proactive communication and adherence to the notification timeline to avoid incurring additional costs.
Even if a Brightstar Care franchisee opts to use another state-approved EVV provider, they are still obligated to pay BrightStar Care an integration fee of $1,000 per aggregator and $500 for each EVV version upgrade required by the state. All other fees required by the third-party provider would be paid directly by the franchisee to the third-party provider. This policy ensures that Brightstar Care is compensated for the integration work, regardless of which EVV system the franchisee chooses to use.