Starting a Rhode Island Home Health or Personal Care Agency?

The cards show the certified home health, non-Medicare skilled home health, and non-medical personal care models. The Home Care Provider model addresses personal care, while Home Nursing Care Provider is the state category for the skilled services described below. Match the approval route to the services and payers you plan to use.

The state contacts for the pathways on this page are Rhode Island Department of Health. The personal care framework is 216-RICR-40-10-17; the skilled framework is 216-RICR-40-10-17. The specific licensing, registration, designation, or program route depends on the services offered.

A Home Care Provider license covers the personal care agency model. It is different from the Home Nursing Care Provider license used for direct skilled nursing. The agency must obtain the required approvals before operating.

The Rhode Island Home Care Provider license fee is $650 annually. Certificate of Need review is separate: regular or accelerated review costs $500 plus 0.25% of capital costs; expedited review costs $750 plus 0.25% of capital costs. Government fees are paid separately from our package.

Yes. Rhode Island requires a letter of intent and Certificate of Need review for a new Home Care Provider. The Health Services Council reviews the proposal, and the Director of Health issues the decision. CON approval and the operating license are separate steps. Full CON proposal preparation is separate from the listed package unless included in a written agreement.

Yes. A Home Care Provider furnishes services under registered nurse supervision. RN assessment, service planning, supervision, and coordination are part of the agency structure even though this license is not for ongoing direct RN or LPN treatment.

The rule recognizes a qualified physician, a qualified registered nurse, or an individual with health-services administration training and at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience in home care or a related setting. Maintain documentation of the selected administrator's qualifications.

Services may include assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility, meals, and other approved personal care needs. Assign tasks according to the client assessment and caregiver qualifications; a Home Care Provider license does not authorize ongoing direct skilled nursing.

The supervising nurse evaluates the client and establishes the care arrangements. The written plan should identify authorized tasks, visit schedules, assistance levels, safety concerns, and changes that caregivers must report to the nurse.

Verify the Rhode Island nursing assistant credential when the position requires it, along with employment screening, orientation, and competency for assigned duties. Keep the evidence in the personnel file and arrange the required nursing supervision.

The provider regulations specify liability coverage of at least $500,000 per occurrence and protection against employee theft or damage of at least $10,000 per loss. Maintain the required coverage and evidence of insurance.

The regulations address dementia-capable care through an operational plan, staff preparation, and care planning. Agency policies should explain how staff recognize needs, communicate with clients and families, and respond to behavioral or safety concerns.

Prepare ownership and management information, evidence of required CON approval, qualified personnel, insurance, written policies, client and personnel record systems, and the licensed service description. The department evaluates compliance before authorizing operation.

The Rhode Island Home Nursing Care Provider license fee is $650 annually. Certificate of Need review is separate: regular or accelerated review costs $500 plus 0.25% of capital costs; expedited review costs $750 plus 0.25% of capital costs. Government fees are paid separately from our package.

The Home Nursing Care Provider license covers nursing care furnished by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and may include therapy and home care services. This package supports that state license; the services offered must match the agency's qualified staff and approvals.

A qualified registered nurse is responsible for nursing direction and supervision. Retain current professional license verification and written responsibilities for clinical leadership, nursing staff, therapists, and any contracted personnel.

The license supports skilled nursing and the additional therapeutic or home care services the agency is qualified and approved to furnish. Nursing may be provided directly or through an arrangement permitted by the Rhode Island regulations; the agency remains responsible for coordinating care.

Yes. The professional advisory committee includes a physician, registered nurse, and representatives of other professional services offered. At least one member must be independent of agency ownership and employment. The committee meets at least twice each year and reviews agency policies at least annually.

Document the assessment, authorized services and treatments, responsible practitioners, visit arrangements, medications, safety needs, and goals. Staff must document the services delivered and communicate changes that require reassessment or revised orders.

Use written agreements for contracted services, with clear qualifications, coordination, supervision, documentation, and payment responsibilities. The licensed provider retains responsibility for the care it arranges and the completeness of the client record.

Maintain client assessments, plans, orders, visit notes, medication information, communications, and discharge documentation. Personnel files should establish each worker's credentials, screening, orientation, competency, and supervision.

The licensing file and operation must demonstrate approved service scope, CON approval, qualified administration and clinical leadership, appropriate insurance, written policies, and functioning clinical-record and quality-review systems.

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 Rhode Island 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. Include professional advisory committee review and follow-up on recommended changes.

Home Health Forms provides Rhode Island-specific quality improvement and written policies.

The Rhode Island Home Care Agency Complete Startup Package may include:

• A professionally designed company logo.
• A customized WordPress business website.
• One year of website hosting.
• One year of domain registration.
• 500 customized business cards.
• 500 customized tri-fold brochures.
• Rhode Island-specific policies and procedures for Home Care Provider.
• Human-resources and personnel documents.
• New-client admission documents.
• Operational and administrative forms.
• Preparation of the Rhode Island Home Care Provider application for your review, signature, and submission.
• Access to the Home Health Forms members' area.
• Customization of documents to the purchaser's agency.
• Ongoing guidance and applicable document updates.

Home Health Forms provides startup guidance, customized documents, and application-preparation assistance. The Rhode Island Department of Health makes all licensing decisions.

The applicant remains responsible for providing complete and truthful information, satisfying ownership, financial, insurance, personnel, office, background-check, supervision, and operational requirements, paying government fees, responding to state requests, preparing for the survey, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Home Health Forms 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.

logo creation, 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.