Starting an Arizona Home Health or Home Care Agency?

This page presents three common startup paths:

• Arizona Medicare Home Health Agency — skilled home health services with Arizona approval and federal Medicare certification.
• Arizona Home Health Agency — skilled services without Medicare billing unless separately certified.
• Arizona Personal Care Agency — a private-pay nonmedical business offering assistive tasks such as dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing, meal preparation, housekeeping, shopping, and other lawful services; Arizona generally does not issue this model a separate ADHS agency license.

ADHS licenses medical Home Health Agencies under Arizona Administrative Code Title 9, Chapter 10, including Article 12. A standalone private-pay business offering only nonmedical personal care in clients’ homes generally does not hold a separate ADHS personal-care agency license. Medicare certification and AHCCCS/ALTCS participation are separate processes.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Licensing Division, licenses and surveys medical Home Health Agencies. AHCCCS separately administers Medicaid provider enrollment and ALTCS program requirements.

ADHS Home Health Agency application and licensing fees are set by the current state fee schedule and should be verified in ADHS Licensing Online before filing. Arizona does not impose a general ADHS agency-license fee on a standalone private-pay nonmedical personal care business, although other registration and program costs may apply.

Arizona generally does not issue a separate ADHS agency license to a standalone private-pay business limited to nonmedical personal care in clients’ homes. The business still must:

• Complete applicable entity, tax, local business, zoning, employment, and insurance requirements.
• Maintain clear service limits, client agreements, personnel screening, training, supervision, privacy, and safety policies.
• Obtain separate AHCCCS/ALTCS enrollment or contracts before billing those programs.
• Avoid skilled nursing or other licensed-professional services unless separately authorized.

A medical Home Health Agency must identify qualified administrative and clinical leadership that meets current ADHS requirements. A nonmedical personal care business should also designate responsible management and document supervision, even though Arizona does not issue it a general ADHS personal-care agency license.

The application must identify the agency's location and any additional locations. The office must support administration and secure records and must satisfy applicable local zoning, lease, privacy, accessibility, and business requirements.

Processing time varies with application completeness, document review, applicant readiness, inspection scheduling, and correction of deficiencies. Medicare certification or accreditation adds separate steps. Home Health Forms does not guarantee a state or federal processing time.

An Arizona Personal Care Agency may provide attendant care, homemaker services such as housekeeping, shopping, laundry, meal planning and preparation, and companion services such as fellowship, transportation, mail reading, and escort services in the client’s residence.

Skilled nursing, therapy, and other therapeutic services require the appropriate Home Health Agency authority and professional personnel.

Arizona law and ADHS application instructions require applicable criminal-history screening for owners, administrative staff, and direct-care personnel. The exact checks depend on the person's role and the governing program; applicants should use ADHS's current Criminal History Check Information.

The licensing path depends on the actual services provided, setting, workforce, and payer. Assisted living, residential care, skilled nursing, AHCCCS/ALTCS services, and services performed by licensed professionals may trigger requirements that do not apply to a private-pay companion or personal-care business.

Not solely because it holds Arizona licensure. An organization planning to seek federal certification must first obtain Arizona state licensure and then complete the applicable Medicare certification and enrollment process. Medicare-certified agencies must also comply with applicable federal Home Health Conditions of Participation.

Yes. Arizona applications and ongoing operations require policies appropriate to the license and services offered. Applicants should prepare the policies identified by ADHS and align them with the applicable requirements in Arizona Administrative Code Title 9, Chapter 10, Article 12. Home Health Foms offers policies and procedures that meet regulatory requirements to ensure your success.

Home Health Forms provides startup guidance, customized documents, and application-preparation assistance. ADHS makes state licensing decisions, and the appropriate federal authorities determine Medicare certification.

The applicant remains responsible for truthful and complete information, qualified personnel, an appropriate office, financial and insurance requirements, fees, regulator requests, inspections, and ongoing compliance. Home Health Foms provides guidance and documents that meet regulatory requirements to ensure your success.

Customized policy manuals, forms, and related digital documents are generally emailed within five business days after Home Health Forms receives all company information needed to complete the customization. Other package components may have separate production timelines.

Cancellation and refund eligibility depends on the work already completed, customized materials produced, digital products delivered, third-party expenses paid, printing ordered, and other services already performed.