Starting a Georgia Home Health Agency or Private Home Care Provider?

This page focuses on a Medicare-certified Home Health Agency and two Private Home Care Provider service paths:

• PHCP with nursing services provided by appropriately licensed nurses.
• Non-medical PHCP providing personal care and/or companion or sitter tasks.

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), through its Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD), licenses and regulates Home Health Agencies and Private Home Care Providers.

Generally, yes. Georgia Rule 111-8-65-.05 prohibits a Private Home Care Provider from operating without a license or provisional license issued by DCH unless a specific exemption applies.

A PHCP may be authorized for one or more of the following service categories:

• Nursing services provided by a Georgia-licensed RN or LPN.
• Personal care tasks, including assistance with bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, eating, ambulation, transfers, home management, and permitted medically related activities.
• Companion or sitter tasks, including transport or escort, meal preparation, and household tasks essential to cleanliness and safety.

Georgia's PHCP rules exclude physical, speech, and occupational therapy; medical nutrition therapy; medical social services; home health aide services furnished by a Home Health Agency; and proxy-caregiver services furnished by a proxy caregiver hired by the patient.

The fee schedule included with the current PHCP application lists a $300 application-processing fee and a $250 annual license fee. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid through the state payment system.

Because DCH updates its fee schedules, applicants should verify the amounts in the current application packet before submitting payment.

No. DCH application and license fees, background checks, insurance, personnel expenses, and other government or third-party charges are separate from the Home Health Forms Startup Package price.

Requirements vary by ownership and services. The current DCH checklist includes items such as:

• An electronic application and required fees.
• A notarized personal-identification affidavit and identification.
• A local business license and organizational documentation.
• Required GCHEXS fingerprint background-check determinations.
• A description of services and client populations.
• Administrator qualifications and job description.
• Employee, personnel, training, competency, and job-description materials.
• Policies, procedures, service agreements, service plans, and operational forms required by Chapter 111-8-65.

The current application checklist states that an administrator and at least one other employee are required to open a PHCP. The personnel selected must be appropriate for the services requested, and nursing positions require a current Georgia professional license.

A PHCP offering nursing services must use appropriately licensed nursing personnel and meet the nursing-supervision requirements applicable to those services. Personal-care training programs may also require direction by an RN or another health professional with commensurate education and experience. The staffing plan must match the services and clients the provider proposes to serve.

The application packet requires satisfactory GCHEXS fingerprint background-check determinations for administrators, managers, and owners. The provider must also comply with applicable employee screening, registry, personnel-record, and criminal-background-check requirements.

DCH states that it cannot guarantee an exact timeframe because every application is different. The current checklist says review typically takes about 60 days after confirmation of receipt. Missing or inaccurate materials can extend the process.

Georgia Home Health Agency projects may be subject to the state's Certificate of Need requirements. An applicant should confirm the applicable health-planning requirements with DCH before relying on a home health licensure or Medicare-certification timeline.

No. A PHCP license is not a Medicare-certified Home Health Agency license. Medicare participation requires the applicable Home Health Agency licensure, federal certification, enrollment, and other state or federal approvals.

No. DCH licensure and enrollment in a Medicaid or waiver program are separate processes. A provider must complete the requirements of each payer or program it intends to serve.

• Logo creation and a customized WordPress website.
• One year of website hosting and domain registration.
• 500 business cards and 500 tri-fold brochures.
• Georgia-specific policy, human-resources, admission, and forms documents.
• Preparation assistance for the applicable Georgia license application.
• Members' area access, customization, guidance, and applicable updates.

Home Health Forms provides customized documents, guidance, and application-preparation assistance. DCH and the applicable federal authorities make licensing and certification decisions. The applicant remains responsible for accurate information, qualified personnel, fees, operational readiness, 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 all information needed for customization is received. Website, printing, shipping, and other components may have separate timelines.

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