HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN CONNECTICUT

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 7
4 min read

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

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.)

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

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

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

HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN CONNECTICUT

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.

Scope of Work: