HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDER IN LOUISIANA

Fatumata Kaba
Aug 12
4 min read

DELIVERING CLINICAL CARE, THERAPY, AND PERSONAL SUPPORT IN THE COMFORT OF EACH PARTICIPANT’S HOME

Home Health Care Services in Louisiana provide skilled nursing, therapy, and aide services to Medicaid participants with acute or chronic health conditions. These services enable individuals to receive medical and rehabilitative care at home, reducing the need for hospital or nursing facility admissions, and supporting recovery, stability, and independence.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Health Standards Section

Role: Licenses and regulates home health agencies; ensures quality of care and survey compliance

Agency: Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) / Molina Medicaid Solutions

Role: Manages Medicaid provider enrollment, reimbursement, and claims processing

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Oversees compliance with federal home health regulations, especially for dual Medicare/Medicaid providers

Agency: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under Bayou Health

Role: Authorize Medicaid State Plan home health services and coordinate care under waiver programs

2. HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Home Health Services include medically necessary clinical and supportive care provided by a licensed team in the participant’s home under a physician’s order and Plan of Care (POC).

Approved services may include:

Skilled Nursing (e.g., wound care, IV therapy, disease management)
Home Health Aide services (e.g., bathing, grooming, ambulation)
Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
Medical Social Work
Medication administration and monitoring
Care coordination and chronic disease education
Telehealth monitoring (if authorized)

All services must be documented in the physician-approved POC and meet the participant’s medical necessity criteria.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Louisiana Secretary of State
Obtain IRS EIN and Type 2 NPI
Apply for Home Health Agency Licensure through LDH Health Standards Section
Enroll with Louisiana Medicaid via the Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
Maintain general and professional liability insurance
Hire licensed clinicians and certified aides
Implement a Home Health Care Policy & Procedure Manual
Use HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (EHR) and documentation systems

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: State Licensure

Apply for a Home Health Agency License via LDH
Undergo inspection and readiness review
Submit staffing plan, emergency protocols, and infection control measures

Step 2: Medicaid Enrollment

Complete provider application at https://www.lamedicaid.com
Submit business, licensure, staff credentialing, and policy documentation

Step 3: MCO Credentialing

Contract with Bayou Health MCOs to serve Medicaid members under managed care

Step 4: Service Launch Upon Authorization

Receive referrals and physician orders
Begin in-home care, maintain documentation, and submit claims

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or business license
IRS EIN and NPI confirmation
LDH Home Health Agency License
Certificates of general and professional liability insurance
Home Health Care Policy & Procedure Manual, including:
- Nursing assessment and care plan templates
- Home health aide assignment sheets
- Therapy visit logs and outcome tracking
- Medication administration records (MARs)
- Emergency protocols and infection control plans
- Participant consent and rights forms
- Incident reporting logs and clinical supervision records
- Medicaid billing and audit-prep documentation

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Registered Nurse (RN) / Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Requirements: Active Louisiana license, CPR certification, clinical experience

Role: Home Health Aide (HHA)

Requirements: State certification, background check, training in ADLs and infection control

Role: Physical / Occupational / Speech Therapist

Requirements: Louisiana license in appropriate discipline; therapy experience in home-based care

Role: Administrator / Clinical Director

Requirements: RN or healthcare manager with home health leadership experience

Training Requirements for All Staff:

HIPAA and confidentiality
Infection control and PPE usage
Abuse/neglect prevention
Clinical documentation and billing practices
Annual competencies and in-service trainings

7. MEDICAID PROGRAMS & HOME HEALTH WAIVER SERVICES

Home Health Care is reimbursed under:

Louisiana Medicaid State Plan (for eligible medical home care services)
Community Choices Waiver (CCW) — for elderly and disabled adults
Residential Options Waiver (ROW) and NOW Waiver — for individuals with I/DD (via skilled or nursing support services)
EPSDT Home Health (for children) — covering nursing, therapy, and aide services under age 21
Money Follows the Person (MFP) — for transitional care and discharge planning

Approved services may include: