Starting an Ohio Home Health or Personal Care Agency?

This page presents three common startup paths:

• Ohio Medicare Home Health Agency — skilled home health services with Ohio approval and federal Medicare certification.
• Ohio Skilled Home Health Services Agency — skilled services without Medicare billing unless separately certified.
• Ohio Nonmedical Home Health Services Agency — personal care and home health aide services.

The Ohio Department of Health licenses both skilled and nonmedical home health services under Chapter 3740 of the Ohio Revised Code. A skilled license also permits the agency to provide nonmedical services.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) licenses skilled and nonmedical home health services agencies under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3740 and Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-60.

Ohio currently requires a $250 nonrefundable application fee for either a skilled or nonmedical home health services license. Licenses are generally valid for three years, and the renewal fee is currently $250. Applicants should verify current instructions with ODH before payment.

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

• A completed application and licensing fee.
• Business, ownership, governing-body, and organizational information.
• Ohio business filings, ownership and controlling-interest information.
• Primary-owner fingerprints, a notarized identity affidavit, and the agency's criminal-records-check policy.
• Operating days and hours, the primary business location, service area, services, and related policies.
• A $20,000 Ohio surety bond for a new nonmedical provider that was not operating immediately before September 30, 2021.

The application identifies the chief administrator, owners, officers, statutory agent, operating location, services, and service area. The agency must also maintain compliant personnel, competency, supervision, criminal-records-check, and operational systems appropriate to its license and payer programs.

The application must identify the agency's primary place of business. An out-of-state agency serving Ohio patients must establish an administrative office in Ohio before applying and maintain Ohio patient records there. Local zoning, lease, privacy, accessibility, and business requirements also apply.

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 Ohio nonmedical home health services agency may provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, feeding, assistance with self-administration of medications, incidental homemaker services, respite, and health-and-safety errands within the statutory scope.

Skilled nursing, therapy, and other skilled services require an Ohio skilled home health services license.

Before employing a direct-care worker, an Ohio home health agency must complete required database reviews and request a BCI criminal-records check. An FBI component is required in specified circumstances, including when the person cannot document five years of Ohio residency.

Chapter 3740 contains limited exclusions, including certain immediate-family caregivers, volunteers, and a person providing direct care to no more than two non-family individuals. Providers should compare their actual services and business model with the statute before relying on an exclusion.

Not solely because it holds Ohio licensure. An organization planning to seek federal certification must first obtain Ohio 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. Ohio applications and ongoing operations require policies appropriate to the services offered, including criminal-records checks, personnel practices, service delivery, documentation, complaints, and other applicable state, professional, payer, and federal requirements.

No. Home Health Forms provides startup guidance, customized documents, and application-preparation assistance. ODH 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.