Home health certification and survey path

The pieces to plan for

• A legal entity and ownership records. Federal rules require a home health agency to disclose ownership and management information to the state survey agency, including at its initial request for certification. Set up your entity with counsel.
• Your state’s home health rules. Federal rules say the agency, its branches and the people furnishing services must be licensed, certified or registered, as applicable, under the state licensing authority. What applies in your state is a question for your state.
• Medicare enrollment. CMS lists Medicare provider enrollment among its home health agency resources. Confirm the current process with CMS.
• A survey against the Conditions of Participation. CMS describes certification of home health agencies and a survey that checks compliance with the federal conditions. Ask CMS and your state survey agency which survey options apply to you.
• Ongoing obligations. Certified agencies report OASIS data and take part in CMS quality programs. Confirm current CMS materials.

A planning list, not a sequence with set durations. We publish no timelines and no survey outcomes.

Non-medical licensing is a different path

If you are planning non-medical home care, you are not seeking Medicare certification, and your state’s home care rules are the place to start. homecarelicenseguide.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, helps you research them.

Medicaid-only paths

Enrolling in a state Medicaid personal care or waiver program is a separate state process, not Medicare home health certification. becomemedicaidprovider.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, covers that path.

Do not rely on old notes about your state

States can change how they license home health agencies, and an article or video about one state may be out of date or may not apply to yours. Check the current rules with your state and the current federal process with CMS before you plan around them.