Starting a Minnesota Home Health or Home Care Agency?

This page presents three common startup paths:

• Minnesota Medicare Home Health Agency — skilled home health services with Minnesota approval and federal Medicare certification.
• Minnesota Home Health Agency — skilled services without Medicare billing unless separately certified.
• Minnesota Basic Home Care License — assistive tasks such as dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing, meal preparation, housekeeping, shopping, and other services allowed by Minnesota law.

MDH licenses home care providers at either the Basic or Comprehensive level under Minnesota Statutes sections 144A.43 to 144A.482. A provider seeking Medicare home health certification generally needs the Comprehensive license and must complete a separate federal certification process.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Health Regulation Division, licenses and surveys Basic and Comprehensive Home Care Providers.

Minnesota Statutes section 144A.472 currently lists a $2,100 initial fee for a Basic license and a $4,200 initial fee for a Comprehensive license. Renewal fees are annual and revenue-based. Verify current amounts before filing.

Requirements depend on the applicant, ownership structure, location, and proposed services. The application process generally requires:

• An account in Minnesota’s current online health-facility licensing system.
• Agency, ownership, manager, and location details.
• Required documents and Minnesota-specific policies.
• The applicable application fee and all forms required by MDH.

Each provider must identify its owners and managerial officials and maintain qualified management. A Comprehensive applicant must also identify the registered nurse or licensed health professional responsible for clinical policies, assessment, delegation, and supervision appropriate to the services offered.

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.

A Minnesota Basic Home Care Provider 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.

Minnesota law and MDH 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 MDH's current Criminal History Check Information.

Minnesota Statutes section 144A.471 contains exclusions for certain individuals and organizations. A business should compare its actual services, workers, clients, and payment model with the current statute before relying on an exclusion.

Not solely because it holds Minnesota licensure. An organization planning to seek federal certification must first obtain Minnesota 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. Minnesota applications and ongoing operations require policies appropriate to the license and services offered. Applicants should prepare the policies identified by MDH and align them with the applicable requirements in Minnesota Statutes sections 144A.43 to 144A.482. 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. MDH 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.