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Hi - I am an RN in MN - I have been contemplating starting a non-Medicare certified HHC service. I would not have any employees and I would be directly providing all the services if within the scope of my expertise. I am responding to this thread due to some information I received during a meeting I had with the marketing director at the MN HomeCare Association - I thought it might prove valuable to you in helping you further define if this is a profitable business venture. I was told that in 2003 MN lost 23 HHC agencies primarily due to reimbursement issues. I guess the main issue for HHC agencies in the state of MN is that the rate of reimbursement received from both Federal and State Funded Programs (as mentioned in earlier thread - your main payors) has not kept up with the HHC agencies operating costs which would include among other things, insurance premiums (examples: liability, worker comp) and taxes (unemployment tax). I do not know what your state has to offer in regards to a similar entity (Home Care Association) but I would recommend looking into getting more information/stats regarding failed HHC agencies - identify the cause. I found that the whole Class A license and Medicare Certification was heavily regulated and expensive (Medicare certification I think was $100,000) as well as very documentation intensive. Good luck in your search.

Thanks for responding to my inquiry about becoming an independent contracting RN. I would be interested in learning more about what experience you have in helping other RNs become independently contracted. This type of business venture appears to have been accomplished by other RN's (those RN's who are currently self employed/self contractors) so it would be nice to link into an existing "how to" so I do not have to waist time reinventing the wheel so to speak. I have contacted an association in Tempe AZ, National Association for Independent Contracting Nurses, current membership 1800, most of their nurse members are on the west coast - there does not appear to be any independent contractors in the north region. As usual the trends don't hit the midwest until after the fact. Any "how to get started" ideas would be appreciated. I could hire an attorney, CPA, internet technology company, marketing specialist ect..to get started but that would cost way more than what I can charge for my services. Knowing that $55-65 per hour is a billable rate as an independent contracting RN is great information to know. How to get to that point of billing $55-65 per hour is what I could use some help with....at this point any information would be appreciated.

Thanks for the information. I have a meeting with my representative from the SCORE office today to review my business plan. I will ask him about the Nx Level SBA that you brought to my attention, thanks again. I was wondering if anyone had a web site I could be directed to for obtaining statistical information about nurses involved with lawsuits? From the UAN web site I found some great information on the nursing shortage - In my quick review of the US I found only 2 states, Montana and Minnesota that have projected surplus of nurses for 2005. This is the kind of data that helps me understand the opportunities that nurses around the country have as far as their future. I was also amazed at the variation of wages around the country. When I think of what nurses are responsible for and look at the average salary - it is no wonder that there is/will be a nursing shortage in this country.

Hi- I am new to this forum and have read through a number of threads discussing RN's as independent contractors. I have been an RN for 25 years and live in MN - I posed a question mid January to the allnurse MN forum requesting any feedback regarding the number of RN's pursuing RN self-employment in MN. I have received "zero" responses to date. In brief, I am looking to start my own, 1 person, business as an independent contractor for RN home health care services. When I contacted the MN Nurses Association (MNA) regarding scope of license under the Nurse Practice Act their responses to me were of both curiousity and concern. They acknowledged my endeavor with words like "entrepreneural spirit" (made me wonder if they had ever handled this type of inquiry before) and their concerns were that of professional/personal liability- they wished me well and asked if they could contact me in the future to see how it was going. I too have my concerns about liability. We live in such a society that when something doesn't go exactly as planned than someone owes you money. I have been reading that even now in a hospital scenario with the nurse/patient ratio the way it is - too high- a nurse is likely to be named in a law suit along with the hospital and MD. So I figure that I am exposed to liability either way but with my own business I can have more control over the situation, provide quality health care and at a pace that is safer for everyone including me..... my health matters too.......... I am taking the needed step nesx week on retaining an attorney to further discuss and operationalize best business practices around incorporation with the ultimate goal of decreasing my liability exposure. I was wondering if anyone had any advise to share with me about self-employment and liability. I was told by an attorney that "Liability is the paralysis of compassion". He obviously is not a nurse. Thoughts?

I am interested in starting my own business as an independently contracted RN for home care services - has anyone tried this?