Starting a home care/ home health agency

pedsnurze1 · Sep 25, 2007

eligrace said:
I am an LPN and I want to start a home care/ home health and PRN staffing agency. Any ideas where to start?

sorry I don't but let me know what you find out I'm also interested and I'll do the same for you. I'm thinking maybe looking into SBA small business association

midcom · Sep 25, 2007

Can an LPN even do that? Sorry, just my ignorance speaking.I just thought you have to be under the supervision of a RN. I'll be interested in hearing what you find out.

Dixie

elkpark · Sep 25, 2007

One place to start would be your state agency that licenses/regulates healthcare agencies & services (hospitals, LTCs, home health, etc.) It's called something different in every state, but it's usually a division of your state Department of Health and Human Services (or whatever that's called in your state :)). They would be able to tell you if you qualify, professionally, to operate such a service, what kind of state license you would need (and how to get it), and what requirements and regulations you would have to meet.

cocodog · Oct 23, 2007

I know about all the government requirements needed to start a home health agency but how do I put it all together..Do you have experience in starting a home health care agency? How do I seek staffing & is there government funding available?

underpaidrn · Oct 23, 2007

eligrace said:
I am an LPN and I want to start a home care/ home health and PRN staffing agency. Any ideas where to start?

It is extremely difficult to start a home health agency. There are many rules and regulations you need to follow, not to mention a $50,000 surety bond and heavy insurance. As an LPN, you could not be in charge of your agency. You would have to hire an RN to be the administrator. Also, if you are going for Medicare/Medicaid certification, you must take 7 active patients for FREE until the Medicare people show up for your initial survey. This includes paying all of your staff, medical supplies, etc. It's a very costly venture to start up. I would first start with your state's licensing agency to get a copy of the rules and regs you need to follow. Next step would be to hire competent staff, which you will have to pay out of pocket since you will have no income for a while. I wish you the best of luck. I've started three of them from scratch and it's a LOT of hard work.

ColetteFL · Oct 25, 2007

In addition to underpaid's comments, I would add the following:

if you don't want to offer skilled nursing, it is a much easier venture. People need companions and care-givers, and (in Florida anyway), you don't need to be licensed to do that. You *can* oversee caregivers as an LPN.

Also, Medicare is changing the rules of payment to HH agencies in January (called PPS), and many agencies will go under or have to cut back; it's going to be difficult for a lot of people/agencies.

Good luck on your venture, whatever you decide to do!:):):)

Agency in Progress · Sep 13, 2008

Can someone catch me up to speed on whether or not you are required to have a RN if you plan to only do unskilled care? Will they have to open the cases for you? Do they have to be the one to go and do the visits every 30,60,90 days for insurance purposes in regards to the patients needs and if they still meet requirements? I have worked for a homehealth agency where we had skilled clients which were under the supervision of a RN but if the agency is strictly for unskilled laborers would a RN be necessary?

momnmotn · Sep 14, 2008

I have A friend,who by the way is A LPN of many,many years anyway, she got upset at her job, and decided to start, a home heath agency. At first, she only took two pts. private pay, I helped her out, she did however, hire a RN we knew, because you will, need an RN . This company has turned out, to be such a sucess she has about 75 or more licensed Nurses and many more, CNAS. She now has 3 locations for offices, in Indiana . If you search the web, for opening ,HHC ,you can purchase, books to help. I know the difficult part, is knowing, the rules and regs. But, I know it is, very possible . Good luck.

Agency in Progress · Sep 14, 2008

Momnmotn,

Thank you for the response. Do you think there is a chance that I could actually speak with her or you by way of email or phone? I am in Tennessee in the Bristol area so trade secrets wont affect her. If you are interested in maybe consulting me for a few minutes, I would greatly appreciate that.

Hope to hear from you soon.

momnmotn · Sep 14, 2008

I also have, a friend, that is ,checking into, starting a peds,agency here. She called my friend and consulted, with her. she,was told, to sign up with the state, on a couple of clients, to bill thru ,local medicaid. she said, that's all you, have to do. I would if I were you, call your state, and see, if you can, get a billing number, so you can private bill, medicaid or medicare. In Indiana, I know LPNS can, do that, without, an RN because they are here, even for skilled care. you can send me a ,message if you would like. I will call my friend, and see, if she will talk to you, I know she will, she is extra nice, but first, call your state,this week, and see if you can, get any info, on private billing. also keyword, "LPN starting home health agency" in your state. Let me know what, you find out. Are you working anywhere,right now? just curious. GOOD LUCK!

Agency in Progress · Sep 14, 2008

I am not currently working due to relocating but I was a general manager for one of the largest home health agencies in the US. In saying that, I am not 100% on starting an agency from scratch and there are still a few things that I didnt have to handle at branch office site, most was handled at corporate office. I do not want to get right into skilled care just yet. I have an investor that approached me during dinner one night on a visit to the town that I have moved to in Tennessee. Matter of fact, I was meeting with a lady that was president of a newly opened home health agency, 3 years, and was interviewing for a GM position with her. He over heard the conversation and approached me when she left. He is a big to do contractor in the area and is looking at investing his money into another lucrative business and evidently he liked what I had to say. Thing of it is, I have never opened one from the ground up and I would absolutely love to talk with her if at all possible of how she went about it. I really appreciate you responding to my inquiries. I hope to speak with her soon. That would help so much. If you will, email me and I will email my cel # back to you. Not too crazy about putting it in the forum. Thanks again!