Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA) provides two tools that Individual Providers regularly encounter: DirectMyCare and CareAttend.
Both involve recording care services, but they aren’t interchangeable.
DirectMyCare is a web portal for reviewing and managing service records. CareAttend is the mobile application used for Electronic Visit Verification, commonly called EVV.
Understanding the difference matters because a shift appearing in DirectMyCare doesn’t automatically mean it meets EVV requirements.
What Does DirectMyCare Actually Do?
DirectMyCare allows Individual Providers to review their clients, enter and correct service time, record mileage, and examine submitted entries.
It also provides information about care plans, authorizations, and notifications.
For providers working with multiple clients, the portal helps separate records by the person receiving care.
However, DirectMyCare is not simply a replacement for CareAttend.
The appropriate method of recording a shift depends on the provider’s circumstances.
Why CareAttend Exists
Electronic Visit Verification is a system used to document certain home care services.
For non-live-in Individual Providers working through CDWA, CareAttend is one of the tools used to record the beginning and end of each shift.
The application captures location information at the start and end of a visit to support EVV compliance.
This is different from manually entering a completed shift into a web form.
The time may be accurate in both cases, but the method of recording it matters.
Live-In and Non-Live-In Providers Follow Different Rules
CDWA distinguishes between providers who live with their clients and those who don’t.
Non-live-in providers generally must record their shifts through an approved EVV method, such as CareAttend, IVR, or a fob.
Live-in providers are exempt from the same EVV clock-in and clock-out requirement and may enter their time directly through DirectMyCare.
This distinction explains why instructions that work for one caregiver may not apply to another.
Before following a time-entry guide, check whether it was written for live-in or non-live-in providers.
What Happens if You Forget to Clock In?
CDWA recognizes situations where a shift wasn’t recorded correctly.
Examples include a forgotten clock-in, an incorrect start time, or a device problem.
Its published instructions explain that certain corrections can be made through DirectMyCare after the shift has been recorded.
For non-live-in providers, CDWA’s guidance specifies a 24-hour correction window after submitting a shift through an EVV method.
After that window, the provider may need assistance from CDWA.
Entering a completely new manual shift isn’t necessarily the correct way to fix an EVV problem.
Where to Review a Shift
DirectMyCare includes a Time/Mileage Entry area.
Providers can select the relevant client and review entries for a particular week.
This is useful when comparing recorded shifts against the services actually provided.
If you work with more than one client, confirm that the correct client is selected before reviewing or correcting an entry.
A shift associated with the wrong person creates a different problem from a simple time-entry mistake.
Submitted Doesn’t Mean Approved
A submitted shift may still require review by the client or authorized representative.
DirectMyCare supports reviewing and approving service entries, but submitting a shift and obtaining approval are separate actions.
If an entry is rejected, the provider should identify the reason before making a correction.
The appropriate next step depends on the entry’s status and the problem involved.
Don’t assume that repeatedly submitting the same information will resolve a rejected record.
What About Mileage?
DirectMyCare also supports mileage entries where applicable.
Mileage is separate from the EVV record of a care visit.
A provider should use the applicable CDWA instructions for recording authorized mileage rather than treating it as additional service time.
The same principle applies to other administrative entries: choose the appropriate record type.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Several problems arise from confusing the two systems.
One is assuming that manually entering hours in DirectMyCare satisfies EVV requirements for every provider.
Another is treating a visible shift as proof that the entire review process is complete.
A third is following live-in provider instructions when the caregiver is actually subject to EVV requirements.
These differences aren’t merely technical details. They determine which procedure applies to a particular service record.
Which Tool Should You Use?
For a non-live-in provider recording a regular care visit, CareAttend or another approved EVV method is generally the starting point.
For reviewing recorded entries, checking client information, and making permitted corrections, DirectMyCare provides the broader workspace.
Live-in providers may use DirectMyCare directly for their time records under CDWA’s separate rules.
When a correction is no longer available, consult CDWA’s current guidance instead of creating duplicate entries.
Two Tools, Different Responsibilities
DirectMyCare and CareAttend are connected parts of the Consumer Direct Care Network Washington workflow.
One supports service administration and record management. The other helps document care visits in accordance with EVV requirements.
For CDCNWA Individual Providers, the important question isn’t simply whether a shift appears in DirectMyCare. It’s whether the shift was recorded using the method required for that provider and whether the resulting entry has completed the necessary review.