Providers with a comprehensive home care license are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health. These services are for people who, because of an illness, disability, or physical condition, cannot perform the tasks for themselves, or who cannot travel to receive health services.
A licensed comprehensive home care agency may provide the services of licensed health professionals such as:
- Nurses
- Physical, speech-language, and occupational therapists
- Dieticians or nutritionists
- Social workers
The services may include medication management; complex medical care like tube feedings and ventilator care; hands-on assistance with transfers and mobility; treatment and therapies; assisting clients with eating when the clients have complicating eating problems; and other health-related procedures. Sometimes health-related tasks are delegated to and performed by unlicensed personnel under the supervision of a registered nurse or other licensed health professionals.
Home care providers with a comprehensive license also assist people with non-medical tasks, such as going to the bathroom, bathing, and transferring from one location to another.
In addition, some home care providers with a state-issued comprehensive license are Medicare certified. Medicare certification indicates that the agency has met additional federal standards and inspections. Medicare certification can be important if the person getting services seeks payment from insurance or Medicare. Check under Licenses and Certifications to see if this agency is Medicare certified.
