Starting a New York Home Health or Personal Care Agency?

The cards show the certified home health, non-Medicare skilled home health, and non-medical personal care models. In New York, LHCSA and CHHA approvals distinguish the available agency routes. A LHCSA can provide authorized skilled or personal care services; CHHA establishment and certification follow a separate process.

The state contacts for the pathways on this page are New York State Department of Health. The personal care framework is Public Health Law Article 36 and 10 NYCRR Parts 765 and 766; the skilled framework is Public Health Law Article 36 and applicable 10 NYCRR home care regulations. The specific licensing, registration, designation, or program route depends on the services offered.

A LHCSA is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to provide the home care services authorized in its license. Those services may include personal care, home health aide services, nursing, and therapies according to the agency's approval and qualified staff.

New York Public Health Law 3605 sets the LHCSA licensure application fee at $2,000. This fee is separate from document preparation, business registration, and other project costs.

Yes. An agency furnishing regulated personal care must use the appropriate Article 36 licensing route. Calling the business non-medical does not remove New York's LHCSA requirements for covered services.

The establishment process includes Department of Health review and Public Health and Health Planning Council consideration. Applicants must address public need, character and competence, and financial feasibility, as applicable to the proposal.

New York uses the NYSE-CON system for the relevant Certificate of Need and establishment submissions. Prepare the ownership, management, service area, operating, and financial materials required for the selected application type.

Verify the training and credential requirements for the assigned personal care aide or home health aide role, together with required Home Care Registry information and background screening. A general job title does not establish qualification for hands-on care.

The agency uses the assessments, nursing supervision, and individualized plans required for its approved services. Plans should define the assistance, visit arrangements, safety needs, and changes that workers must report.

Yes. Public Health Law 3605-B establishes a registration requirement in addition to licensure. A LHCSA must remain properly registered and meet the department's reporting requirements; possessing an operating license alone does not eliminate those obligations.

No. Changes in ownership, operators, locations, or service authority may require department review and approval. Match the agency's advertised services and actual operations to its current authorization.

A LHCSA application carries a $2,000 fee under Public Health Law 3605. A Certified Home Health Agency establishment application also carries a $2,000 fee under Public Health Law 3606. Additional fees can apply to other project types, such as construction or ownership changes.

A Certified Home Health Agency operates under the CHHA establishment and certification framework, while a LHCSA provides the services authorized in its state license. These are distinct approvals and business models; the correct route depends on services, payment arrangements, and the proposed operation.

Yes, when nursing is included in its authorized service scope and the agency meets the applicable professional staffing, supervision, care-planning, and operating requirements. The LHCSA license does not by itself make the agency a federally certified provider.

The proposal must meet the state establishment review requirements, including need, ownership character and competence, and financial feasibility, together with the operating and certification requirements applicable to a CHHA.

Maintain assessments, required practitioner orders, individualized plans, visit notes, medication and treatment records, coordination, and discharge information. Clinical records must support the authorized services and the applicable agency standards.

Use professionals licensed or otherwise authorized for the services they perform in New York. Verify credentials and experience, assign clinical supervision, and document competency and coordination across disciplines.

Yes. Payer participation depends on contracts, provider qualifications, covered services, authorizations, and billing requirements. State establishment and licensure do not automatically create a payer agreement.

Establish written emergency contacts, staff escalation, backup coverage, weather and travel procedures, and instructions for clients when a scheduled visit cannot occur. For an immediate medical emergency, staff should activate emergency services. Keep the response appropriate to the New York services your agency is authorized to provide.

Provide a clear contact for concerns, record each complaint, assign follow-up, document the response, and review patterns that call for changes. Preserve client confidentiality and follow applicable abuse, neglect, and incident-reporting requirements.

Written policies are required for the licensed services. They should address administration, personnel, client care, supervision, rights, confidentiality, infection prevention, emergencies, and records. Maintain a documented process to review services, complaints, incidents, and record quality, and follow the quality or program-evaluation requirements applicable to this license.

Home Health Forms provides New York-specific quality improvement and written policies.

Yes. Home Health Forms provides New York-specific policies, personnel documents, admission materials, and operating forms customized with your company information. Select the document category that matches your services, and contact us to discuss additional preparation or consulting work.