Minnesota laws require individuals and agencies that offer home care services be licensed. Home care services may not be offered nor provided without a valid license (unless the provider is exempted or excluded from licensure. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
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Information about starting a home care agency
Minnesota laws require individuals and agencies that offer home care services be licensed. Home care services may not be offered nor provided without a valid license (unless the provider is exempted or excluded from licensure as addressed below).
MDH encourages parties interested in becoming licensed to review all sections of the Home Care website to become familiar with the requirements of licensure.
Applicants and licensed providers must understand Minnesota home care laws. The home care laws can be accessed for free electronically and may also be purchased as a bound book or a digital (PDF) file. Home Care Laws
Minnesota has two types of home care licenses. The license a home care provider holds depends on the types of services offered. Download the following documents to see the services that are allowed under the basic and comprehensive home care licenses.
To be eligible for a home care license, applicants must have agency-specific policies and procedures in place that address all requirements of Minnesota home care statutes. Review information about MDH’s expectations for policies and procedures,
as well as other important and helpful information at these links:
Expectations for Agency-Specific Policies and Procedures for Home Care Providers
See:
Application for Home Care Licensure: Temporary Basic Home Care (PDF)
Application for Home Care Licensure: Temporary Comprehensive Home Care (PDF)
Application for Change of Ownership: Basic Home Care License (PDF)
Application for Change of Ownership: Comprehensive Home Care License (PDF)
Application for Registration as a Provider of Home Management Services (PDF)
Integrated License: Home and Community-Based Services Designation (PDF)
Survey forms and self-audit tools
Statement of Home Care Services: Basic License (PDF)
Statement of Home Care Services: Comprehensive License (PDF)
Change of Home Care Provider Information Form (PDF)
Use this form to update the MDH about changes in provider address, administrator/agent, phone number, email address,
workers’ compensation insurance, and housing with services locations.
Notice from Temporary Licensee of Providing Home Care Services (PDF)
Use this form to inform MDH within five days after beginning to provide home care services.
Home Care Revenue Worksheet (PDF)
This worksheet is to assist providers with calculating their revenue from providing home care services.
License Closure Form (PDF)
Use this form to inform MDH if you are closing or not renewing your home care license.
Home Care License and Registration Renewal
Home Care Licenses
Home care licenses are renewed online. Your renewal letter will have the login information you need to complete the online renewal.
Home Care License Online Renewal: Improved Customer Service Delivery
An initial applicant seeking temporary home care licensure must submit the following application fee to the commissioner along with a completed application:
See Minn. Stat. § 144A,484, subd. 8
A license is effective for one year from the effective date.
Initial licenses issued are “temporary” and are effective for up to one year from issuance. Within that first year, MDH will conduct an initial full survey to ensure that the licensee is in substantial compliance with the requirements of home care laws. If, upon the initial full survey, the licensee is found in substantial compliance, a basic or comprehensive license will be issued. If, upon the initial full survey, the licensee is found not in substantial compliance, a license will not be issued.
The time it takes to obtain a license is dependent upon how complete an application is when received by MDH. In addition to the application and the fee, there are many documents that are required to make a complete application. Review the application closely, including the checklist, to be sure you are providing all materials. Home care laws require that MDH review each application to determine the applicant’s knowledge of and compliance with Minnesota home care regulations. We may request additional information or a telephone or in-person meeting with applicants to make this assessment. Once an application is deemed complete MDH has 60 days to issue or deny the temporary license.
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