Starting a Home Care Agency
Starting a home care agency can be an extremely rewarding enterprise. Before embarking on this journey it is critical to consider the requirements and guidelines for the state you want to register in. We have compiled a resource guide for you the get basic information and contacts to take the first leap into this wonderful journey!
Some key steps to think about when starting a non-medical home care agency:
1. Take into consideration training and accreditation.
Training programs are usually not required with the exception of a few states but they are a great way to help you get your feet of the ground. Through these programs you can learn how to schedule, bill clients and market your business in the best possible light.
2. Gather any licenses of permits.
This depends on what state you are trying to register in. Use our curated list below to help you with your search on what is required for each state.
3. Develop business operations which include any procedures and policies.
These include things like billing, authorizations and service hours/rules. We recommend to use a home care management software like Ankota to help you with all of your management needs.
4. Market your business
Marketing is crucial to get your name out there and establish rapport in a particular area. Focus on this to ensure you can make the impact you desire in this industry!
Content Index
Chapter 1: Starting a Home Care Business in Alabama
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Registering:
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Home Care agency is also known as Home Health agency
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Everything is under certificate of need
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Do not need license to run home care business
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State requires a certificate of need to open up a certified home care agency
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To get CON need to get approved from the State Health Planning and Development Agency
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You also need to get approved from Alabama Department of Public Health and CMS
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https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/index.html
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r/Provider-Type/Home-Health-Agency-HHA-Center
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With Montgomery for example, we recommend contacting:
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Economic & Community Development 25 Washington Ave., 4th Floor Montgomery, AL 36104
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If you want to get certified in a particular city we recommend searching up the city name and typing 'how to register".
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Contact
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Alabama Bureau of Licensure and Certifications
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+1-800-252-1818 http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/
Chapter 2: Starting a Home Care Business in Alaska
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Contact:
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State of Alaska Division of Senior and Disability Services +1-907-269-3666
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http://www.hcaoa.org/my-hcaoa/alaska/
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https://www.alaskapca.org/
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http://dhss.alaska.gov/dhcs/Pages/hflc/home_health.aspx
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https://www.alaskahomecare.com/
Chapter 3: Starting a Home Care Business in Arizona
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Registering:
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To get started on the process, contact the Bureau of Medical Services and Licensing
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https://www.azag.gov/seniors/resources-for-seniors
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Contact:
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Arizona In-Home Care Association
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Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
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Arizona Department of Health Services, 150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 542-1025 Fax: (602) 542-0883
Chapter 4: Starting a Home Care Business in Arkansas
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Contact:
Chapter 5: Starting a Home Care Business in California
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Consultants/Gurus Supporting the state:
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Registering
Community Care Licensing Division Home Care Services Bureau
744 P Street MS 9-14-90
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (877) 424-5778
Fax: (916) 651-5600
HCSB@dss.ca.gov
Chapter 6: Starting a Home Care Business in Colorado
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Registering:
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https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/home-care-agencies
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https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/home-care-agencies-provider-resources
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https://www.homecareofcolorado.org/
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Contact:
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Bureau Association of Health Services: 3035621924
Chapter 7: Starting a Home Care Business in Connecticut
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Consultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
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Registering:
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Find the application here: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/License-Services-Division/License-Division/Homemaker-Companion-Agency-Registration
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A home care agency is known in Connecticut as a home maker companion agency
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Companion services mean: "...nonmedical, basic supervision services to ensure the well-being and safety of a person in such person's home."
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Contact:
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https://www.cthealthcareathome.org/
Chapter 8: Starting a Home Care Business in Delaware
Consultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
Registering
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Find information here:
Contact
Chapter 9: Starting a Home Care Business in Florida
Consultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
Registering:
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Find Information here
Contact:
Chapter 10: Starting a Home Care Business in Georgia
Consultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
Registering
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We strongly suggest using this video as a guide to get you started on the application process.
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In the state of Georgia Home Care agency is called: “Private home care provider”
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Find the link here to get started :
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Licensing is a two part process: Submit your application and wait for approval (which takes around 6 months).
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Upon approval you will get a provisional license which is good for 1 year and within 1 year you need to become operational by getting 2 clients and having “on site survey for regular license” { more info in link above}
Contact
Chapter 11: Starting a Home Care Business in Hawaii
Registering:
Contact:
Chapter 12: Starting a Home Care Business in Idaho
Registering:
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Licensing & Certification: (208) 364-1959, ALC@dhw.idaho.gov
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https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Medical/LicensingCertification/tabid/124/Default.aspx
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This state does not need licensing
Contact:
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Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses- (208) 334-3233
Chapter 13: Starting a Home Care Business in Idaho
Registering
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Licensing & Certification: (208) 364-1959, ALC@dhw.idaho.gov
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https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Medical/LicensingCertification/tabid/124/Default.aspx
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This state does not need licensing
Contact:
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Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses- (208) 334-3233
Chapter 14: Starting a Home Care Business in Illinois
Registering:
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Called Home Services Agencies
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https://bizfluent.com/how-6130410-open-health-care-business-illinois.html
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Rules and Regulations :
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Contact
Chapter 15: Starting a Home Care Business in Indiana
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Registering
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Called a Personal Services agency
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You do need a license
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https://www.in.gov/isdh/20119.htm
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https://www.in.gov/isdh/files/AC_PSA_Initial_Application_Instruction_Letter.pdf
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Notes
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make sure you look into the letter of instruction and after reviewing you can call this number: 317-233-7492
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You need to have an address and physical location to register
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Contact
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Indiana State Department of HealthDivision of Acute Care 2 North Meridian Street, 4A Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 233-7474 (Acute Care Receptionist) (317) 233-1325 (ISDH Main Switchboard)
Chapter 16: Starting a Home Care Business in Iowa
Chapter 17: Starting a Home Care Business in Kansas
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Registering
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Called a Home Health Agency
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All the information you will need to register is located here:
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https://www.kdheks.gov/bhfr/home_health_agencies/Kansas_HHA_Packet.pdf
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Contact
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https://www.kdheks.gov/bhfr/index.html
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Kansas Department of Health and Environment
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1000 SW Jackson, Suite 330Topeka, Kansas 66612-1365Phone: 785-296-0127FAX: 785-559-4250
Chapter 18: Starting a Home Care Business in Kentucky
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Registering
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Check out this link for all the information needed to register
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https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oig/dhc/Pages/ltcapplications.aspx
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Contact
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Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
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Phone:(502) 564-7963
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Mailing Address:275 E. Main St. 5E-AFrankfort, KY 40621Division of Health Care (OS)
Chapter 19: Starting a Home Care Business in Louisiana
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Contact
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Louisiana Department of Health Program Manager
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Marian Tate, RN, BSN Phone: 225-342-6446 Fax: 225-342-0157
Chapter 20: Starting a Home Care Business in Maine
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Register
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All info here: https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/144/144c119.doc
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Contact
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https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/
Chapter 21: Starting a Home Care Business in Maryland
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Contact
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Maryland Department of Health Herbert R. O'Conor State Office Building 201 W. Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201 877-463-3464 410-767-6500
Chapter 22: Starting a Home Care Business in Massachusetts
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Contact
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Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification 67 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752(617) 753-8000
Chapter 23: Starting a Home Care Business in Michigan
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Consultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIDprLkHLYQ
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http://www.nbhsllc.com
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Register
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Contact
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Call the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department at 517-335-9700
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https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_72600---,00.html
Chapter 24: Starting a Home Care Business in Minnesota
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Register
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All the information is here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/regulation/homecare/starting.html
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Contact
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https://survey.vovici.com/se/56206EE31B4AC36F
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Department of Health:651-201-5000 Phone888-345-0823 Toll-free
Chapter 25: Starting a Home Care Business in Mississippi
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Contact
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Department of Health Central Office Phone 601-576-7400 (8am-5pm) Toll-free: 1-866-458-4948
Chapter 26: Starting a Home Care Business in Missouri
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Constultants/Gurus Supporting the State:
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Nicole Mcbee : https://www.newdayconsult.com/
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Contact
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Bureau of Home Care and Rehabilitative Standards Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services PO Box 570 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
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Phone: 573-751-6336 Fax: 573-751-6315 Home Health/Hospice Hotline: 800-392-0210 (to be used for filing complaints) Email: info@health.mo.gov
Chapter 28: Starting a Home Care Business in Nebraska
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Register
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Called Home Health Agency
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http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Home-Health-Agencies.aspx
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Initial Licensure application http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/HHAInitialAppNonfillable.pdf
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Contact
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DHHS Licensure Unit Attn: Home Health Agencies PO Box 94986 Lincoln NE 68509-4986 (402) 471-4967
Chapter 29: Starting a Home Care Business in Nevada
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Register
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Called a Personal Care Agency
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http://dpbh.nv.gov/Reg/HealthFacilities/HF_-_Non-Medical/Agency_to_provide_personal_care_services_in_the_home_(personal_care_agency)/
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Contact
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http://dpbh.nv.gov/contact/Contact/
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Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) 4150 Technology Way, Carson City, NV 89706 Phone: 775-684-4200 | FAX: 775-684-4211 Email: dpbh@health.nv.gov Business Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chapter 30: Starting a Home Care Business in New Hampshire
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Contact
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 129 Pleasant Street | Concord, NH | 03301-3852
Chapter 31: Starting a Home Care Business in New Jersey
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Register
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Contact
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New Jersey, 1996-2020 Department of Health P. O. Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
Chapter 32: Starting a Home Care Business in New Mexico
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Register
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https://www.nmhealth.org/about/dhi/hflc/prop/stli/ 505-476-9025 Phone
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ttp://164.64.110.134/parts/title07/07.001.0007.html
Chapter 33: Starting a Home Care Business in New York
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Register
Chapter 34: Starting a Home Care Business in North Carolina
Chapter 35: Starting a Home Care Business in North Dakota
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Contact
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1-800-545-8256 Home Health Hotline
Chapter 36: Starting a Home Care Business in Ohio
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Register
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Non Regulated State
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https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/home-health-agencies/homehealthagencies
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Contact
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Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Regulatory Operations, HHA 246 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215Telephone: (614) 995-7466 Fax: (614) 564-2475E-mail: community@odh.ohio.gov
Chapter 37: Starting a Home Care Business in Oklahoma
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Contact
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OSDH - Medical Facilities Service Attn: Home Services Division 1000 NE 10th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299Telephone: 405-271-6576 Fax: 405-271-1141 Email: medicalfacilities@health.ok.gov
Chapter 38: Starting a Home Care Business in Oregon
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Contact
Chapter 39: Starting a Home Care Business in Pennsylvania
Chapter 40: Starting a Home Care Business in Rhode Island
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Contact
Chapter 41: Starting a Home Care Business in South Carolina
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Register
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Called a Health Facility
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https://scdhec.gov/health-regulation/healthcare-facility-licensing
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Licensed State
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Different than most states: quite detail oriented
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Contact
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Online – Use our Constituent Services form. Email – Send an email to info@dhec.sc.gov.Mail – Send a letter to: Constituent ServicesSC Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull StreetColumbia, SC 29201 Phone –(803) 898-3432
Chapter 42: Starting a Home Care Business in South Dakota
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Contact
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Submit written request for information to license and/or certify specific facility type to:
Chris Qualm, Administrator Office of Health Care Facilities Licensure & Certification 615 E. 4th Street Pierre, SD 57501-1700
Chapter 43: Starting a Home Care Business in Tennessee
Chapter 44: Starting a Home Care Business in Texas
Chapter 45: Starting a Home Care Business in Utah
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Contact
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Utah Department of Health1-888-222-2542Cannon Health Building288 North 1460 WestSalt Lake City, UT 84116
Chapter 46: Starting a Home Care Business in Vermont
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Contact
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https://dail.vermont.gov/contact-us
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Phone: (802) 241-2401 Fax: (802) 241-0386 Address: Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living HC2 South, 280 State Drive Waterbury VT 05671-2020
Chapter 47: Starting a Home Care Business in Virginia
