Home Health Agency (HHA) Certification

This page contains information and forms required to operate as a Home Health Agency in Minnesota.

State Requirements

Minnesota Home Care Licensing

All federally certified HHAs must have a Minnesota comprehensive home care license.

• Home Care

Minnesota Statute

• Home Care Laws

Responsibilities and Requirements for HHA Certification

For the process required to make changes to your Medicare certification, please click on the specific link below:

• Adding a Branch Location
• Adding or Changing Service Area
• Adding Skilled Services to a Parent or Branch Location
• Change of Accreditation Status 
• Changes of Administrator
• Change of Location 
• Change of Ownership
• Closure of Parent 
• Closure of Branch Location
• Doing Business As (DBA) Name Change
• Initial Medicare Certification
• Legal Entity Name Change (not a change of ownership)
• Operating Separate Entity Under One License (PDF)
• Provide Services Across State Lines

Federal Requirements

State Operations Manual, Chapter 2-The Certification Process

State Operations Manual, Chapter 5, Complaint Procedures

State Operations Manual, Appendix B- Guidance to Surveyors: Home Health Agencies
Select "Appendices Table of Contents," then select letter B, Home Health Agencies

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Information on  HHA

CMS: Home Health Agency (HHA)
Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Survey & Certification Group

CMS: OASIS (Outcome and Assessment Information Set) Data Sets
Policy and technical information related to OASIS

CMS Policy & Memos to States and Regions
CMS issues S&C memos weekly. It will be the responsibility of providers to check weekly for new information listed at the CMS S&C memo website.

Quality Assurance for the Medicare & Medicaid Program Mission & Priority Document (MPD)

The Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG) and Survey & Operations Group (SOG) remain dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of all Americans. The FY 2023 MPD reflects this dedication, along with our ongoing commitment to strengthen oversight, enhance enforcement, increase transparency, improve quality, and reduce burden.

 Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Mission & Priority document (MPD) – Action

Important Federal Survey Data Including Results of Inspections and Complaints

S&C's Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) 
Quality and Certification Oversight Reports (QCOR) website includes summarized federal survey and certification and complaints data, including results of on-site inspections, of providers and suppliers and deficiency data links and more.

Home Health Compare

Medicare.gov Home Health Compare
Medicare data comparing home health agencies using quality of patient care the agency provides and comparison of patient experience survey results.

Federal and State Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness Rule
Emergency preparedness resources and surveyor tool.

Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers
Links to resources that can help provider and suppliers comply with the recently released Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Emergency Preparedness Rule. Has a document titled "Resources at Your Fingertips," which contains check lists and fact sheets on the essential four core elements of the CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule.

State Operation Manual, Appendix Z- Guidance to Surveyors: Emergency Preparedness for All Provider and Certified Supplier Types Interpretive Guidance
Directions: Select Appendices Table of Contents, Scroll to Appendix Letter Z, and Federal Regulations for Emergency Preparedness for All Provider and Certified Supplier types

CMS Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP) - CMS Emergency Preparedness Basic Surveyor Training Course (EP)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Survey & Certification Group (SCG) developed the Emergency Preparedness Basic Surveyor Training Course to help health and safety and Life Safety Code (LSC) surveyors and reviewers gain proficiency in surveying all affected participating providers and certified suppliers for compliance with their individual emergency preparedness requirements. Because the individual regulations for each provider and supplier type share a majority of standard provisions, this training provides consistent guidance and survey procedures for all provider and supplier types in a single course. The estimated course completion time for this training is 16 hours

MDH Emergency Preparedness and Response
This section of MDH coordinates preparedness activities and assists Minnesota Department of Health staff, local public health agencies, hospitals, health care organizations, tribes and public safety officials in their efforts to plan for respond to and recover from public health emergencies

Resources

CMS Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP) - CMS Surveyor Training
The Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP) site includes a wealth of resources and training opportunities including webcasts and archived webinars. These video broadcasts are utilized to facilitate joint training between the state survey agencies and providers using the technology available via satellite communications. The training is updated periodically by CMS. Use the search bar to find courses.

Minnesota e-Health
E-health is the adoption and effective use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and other health information technology (HIT) to improve health care quality, increase patient safety, reduce health care costs, and enable individuals and communities to make the best possible health decisions

OASIS Information
Updates, training and contact information related to OASIS.

Bed Rail Safety for Health Care Providers
Bed rails are often used in a variety of health care settings as an assistive device for patients/residents. However, bed rails can be a form of restraint and can pose a significant risk to their health and safety.

Medicare Certified Home Care Bill of Rights

For clients receiving services from a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency:

• Combined Bill of Rights for Home Care - English (PDF)
• For this document in other languages see Home Care Bill of Rights.

For clients receiving services from a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency in a Housing With Services Assisted Living setting (as defined by Minn. Stat. Sec. 144G):

• Combined Bill of Rights for Assisted Living Clients (PDF)

Survey Forms for Combined Federal Certification/State Licensure Survey:

• HHA Survey Investigation Worksheet 1: Patient Sample (PDF)
• HHA Survey Investigation Worksheet 2: Agency Summary (PDF)
• HHA – Clinical Record Review and Home Visit Sample Selection Worksheet (PDF)
• HHA - Employee Record Review Worksheet (PDF)
• HHA - Professional Staff Personnel Record Review (PDF)
• HHA – Surveyor Guideline for Entrance Conference (PDF)
• HHA – Agency Information Worksheet (PDF)
• Tuberculosis Prevention and Control - MDH Surveyor Checklist (PDF)

Information Bulletins

MDH Health Regulation Division Information Bulletins
Includes MDH updates. Subscription for automatic updates via email.