DELIVERING SKILLED NURSING, THERAPIES, AND PERSONAL CARE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR OWN HOMES THROUGH LICENSED AND MEDICAID-CERTIFIED CARE

Home Health Services in Connecticut provide skilled nursing, therapy, and home health aide support to individuals recovering from illness or managing chronic conditions. These services are authorized under Connecticut Medicaid, the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver, and traditional Medicare. All providers must be licensed as Home Health Care Agencies (HHCAs) by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH)
Role: Licenses and monitors Home Health Care Agencies (HHCAs) under Connecticut General Statutes and public health code

Agency: Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)
Role: Administers Medicaid, CHCPE, and waiver reimbursements for in-home services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Role: Oversees Medicare-certified home health services and ensures HCBS waiver compliance

2. HOME HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Home Health Services support individuals with complex medical, rehabilitative, or personal care needs while allowing them to remain safely at home. Services must be ordered by a physician and align with the participant’s plan of care.

Approved providers may deliver:

• Skilled nursing (e.g., wound care, medication administration, chronic disease management)
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Home health aide assistance with ADLs (bathing, dressing, mobility)
• Medical social work and family support
• Patient and caregiver education
• Care coordination and communication with physicians and waiver teams
• Documentation of visits, outcomes, and reassessments

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register your business with the Connecticut Secretary of the State
• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
• Apply to DPH for a Home Health Care Agency (HHCA) license
• Meet building, policy, and staffing requirements
• Apply for Medicare Certification (optional) through CMS
• Enroll as a Medicaid provider through DSS and the DSS Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
• Maintain general and professional liability insurance

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4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Apply for HHCA License with DPH

• Submit policies, staff qualifications, patient rights forms, and infection control plans
• Pass onsite inspection and receive license number

Step 2: (Optional) Medicare Certification via CMS

• Apply using CMS Form 855A and complete a federal survey
• Receive CMS Certification Number (CCN)

Step 3: Medicaid Enrollment via DSS

• Apply through the CT DSS Medicaid Provider Portal
• Provide NPI, EIN, HHCA license, and banking info
• Select applicable waiver programs (CHCPE, PCA, etc.)

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5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or business registration
• IRS EIN Letter
• NPI confirmation
• Connecticut DPH HHCA License
• Medicare certification (if applicable)
• DSS Medicaid enrollment confirmation

Policy & procedure manual including:

• Admission criteria and plan of care templates
• Nurse and therapy documentation procedures
• Medication management and administration logs
• HIPAA compliance and patient rights policies
• Home health aide task sheets and visit verification
• Infection control, emergency response, and incident documentation
• Clinical staff supervision plans and performance evaluations
• Billing logs and compliance review documentation

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6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Administrator / Clinical Director
Requirements: RN license in CT with home health or supervisory experience

Role: Registered Nurse (RN) / Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Requirements: Active CT license, CPR certified, experience in home health preferred

Role: Home Health Aide (HHA)
Requirements: State-approved HHA training completion, background check, TB clearance

Optional Staff:

• Physical Therapist (PT)
• Occupational Therapist (OT)
• Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
• Medical Social Worker (MSW)

Training Requirements for All Staff:

• Initial orientation, HIPAA, infection control, and emergency procedures
• Annual skills reviews and in-service training
• Specialized training for high-risk populations (e.g., dementia care, wound management)

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Home Health Services are reimbursed under:

• Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
• Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver
• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers I & II
• State Plan Medicaid and Medicare (when medically necessary)

Approved providers may deliver:

• In-home skilled care ordered by a physician
• ADL support through certified aides
• Coordination with case managers and reassessment teams
• Documentation aligned with waiver goals and CMS compliance

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation
Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: DPH Home Health Agency Licensing
Timeline: 90–150 days

Phase: Medicare Certification (optional)
Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and Waiver Readiness
Timeline: 30–60 days

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9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) – Facility Licensing
Phone: (860) 509-7400
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH

Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS)
Email: dss.ctmedical@ct.gov
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS

Connecticut Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
Website: https://www.ctdssmap.com

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Website: https://www.cms.gov

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• Business registration (LLC, EIN, NPI)
• DPH HHCA licensing application and preparation
• Medicare and Medicaid enrollment support
• Policy & procedure manual for clinical and operational standards
• Templates for plans of care, nurse/therapy notes, and aide logs
• Website, domain, and email setup
• Staff credentialing trackers and supervision logs
• Client intake packet, consent forms, and compliance checklists
• Incident reporting systems and audit preparation tools
• Referral networking with hospitals, MCOs, and case managers

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — CONNECTICUT HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER

We support healthcare entrepreneurs and clinical professionals in launching fully licensed, Medicaid-compliant Home Health Agencies in Connecticut, from licensing and staffing to billing and documentation systems.

To get started, click the link to request portal access.