Home care agency means a private or public organization that provides home care services in a place of temporary or permanent residence used as an individual's home.

Home care services include nursing care; physical, occupational, or speech therapy; medical social services; in-home aide services; infusion nursing services; clinical respiratory services; in-home companion, sitter, and respite care; and homemaker services as outlined in G.S. 131E-136(3).

Home Health means a licensed home care agency which is certified to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for providing nursing care, therapy, medical social services, and home health aide services.

A Medicare certified agency is a licensed home care agency which has been approved to receive Medical reimbursement for providing nursing care, therapy, medical social services, and home health aide services. These agencies are called "home health agencies".

A Medicare certified home health agency can receive Medicare reimbursement for home health services provided to individuals. A non-certified home care agency is a state licensed only home care agency that cannot receive Medicare reimbursement for services.

To become a medicare certified home health agency, a Certificate of Need (CON) must be obtained.

The moratorium on In-Home Services ended June 30, 2019.

DHSR is the state agency which licenses home care agencies and ensure agencies are providing services in accordance with the home care rules and regulations. DHB, also known as DMA (Division of Medical Assistance), manages the Medicaid and Health Choice programs.

Yes, "No person or governmental unit shall operate a home care agency without a license." GS 131E-138.

See the Requirements for Establishing a Home Care Agency at the following link:

https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ahc/flohc.htm

See the Requirements for Establishing a Home Health Agency at the following link: https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ahc/flohh.htm

See the Requirements for Establishing a Hospice Agency at the following link: https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ahc/flohos.htm

The license fee for an initial application is $560.00. The license fee for a change of ownership is $510.00. The annual license renewal fee is $510.00. The annual license renewal fee is non-refundable.

The length of the initial licensure process varies depending on multiple factors such as whether the application is complete, whether additional information needs to be submitted, current surveyor workload and availability of resources necessary to complete the review. Therefore, it is not possible to establish specific time frames.