Starting an Illinois Home Health, Home Nursing, or Home Services Agency?

This page focuses on three Illinois agency paths regulated under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act:

• Home Health Agency — provides skilled home health services and may pursue Medicare certification.
• Home Nursing Agency — provides skilled nursing services in a client's residence but is not, by that license alone, a Medicare-certified home health agency.
• Home Services Agency — provides non-medical household, personal-support, and companionship services.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) licenses and regulates Home Health, Home Nursing, and Home Services Agencies. The principal state rules are found in 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 245.

Yes. Illinois law requires the appropriate IDPH license before a person opens, manages, conducts, maintains, or advertises an agency as a Home Health, Home Nursing, or Home Services Agency.

Under 77 Ill. Adm. Code 245.95, a single Home Health Agency license carries a $1,500 fee for a two-year license. A Home Nursing Agency or Home Services Agency pays a non-refundable licensure fee of up to $1,500 annually.

Fees and payment instructions can change. Applicants should confirm the current amount on the applicable IDPH application before submitting it.

No. IDPH license fees are separate from the Home Health Forms Startup Package price and must be paid directly as instructed by the state.

Yes. Illinois permits an entity to obtain licenses singly or in an authorized combination. A separate completed application and non-refundable fee are required for each license.

Exact requirements depend on the license type and ownership structure. Applicants should expect to provide the completed IDPH application, ownership and organizational information, agency and manager information, the proposed geographic service area, required supporting documents, and the applicable fee.

Applicants must also be prepared to comply with Part 245 and other applicable requirements, including the Health Care Worker Background Check Code and requirements concerning Alzheimer's disease and related dementias services.

IDPH states that it conducts an initial application review within 30 days. The application must be completed and approved within 90 days after submission or it may be denied.

The total startup timeline depends on application completeness, revisions, personnel readiness, survey requirements, and—when applicable—accreditation or Medicare certification. No processing time can be guaranteed.

IDPH generally issues a provisional license valid for 240 days. The agency must meet the operational requirements communicated by IDPH and prepare for an on-site survey. Part 245 provides for inspection within 30 days before the provisional license expires.

A properly licensed Home Services Agency may provide non-medical household, personal-support, and companionship services. Depending on the client's service plan and applicable limitations, services may include:

• Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and personal-hygiene assistance.
• Ambulation, positioning, and transfer assistance.
• Meal preparation and feeding assistance within permitted limits.
• Housekeeping, laundry, shopping, errands, and companionship.
• Medication reminders within the limits established by Part 245.

No. Part 245 states that a Home Services Agency may not provide medical services that must be performed by an agency licensed as a Home Health Agency or Home Nursing Agency. Certain personal-support tasks also have specific training, competency, client-condition, or scope limitations.

A Home Nursing Agency provides skilled nursing services in a client's residence. If its agency manager is not an RN or APRN, the agency must identify an RN or APRN to supervise skilled nursing services as required by Part 245.

Both may provide authorized skilled services, but they are separate Illinois license categories with different operational requirements. A Home Health Agency may pursue Medicare certification as a home health provider. A Home Nursing Agency license alone does not authorize Medicare home health billing.

No. State licensure and federal Medicare certification are separate. An agency seeking Medicare reimbursement must complete the applicable federal enrollment and certification requirements in addition to Illinois licensure.

An agency must operate within its IDPH-approved geographic service area. IDPH approval is required before the agency begins serving clients or patients in an additional county.

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

The applicant remains responsible for supplying complete and truthful information, meeting all personnel and operational requirements, paying fees, responding to regulator requests, and maintaining compliance. Approval and processing times cannot be guaranteed. 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.

Business formation, website development, domain registration, printing, shipping, and 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.