Home Care Frequently Asked Questions
Statement of Home Care Services

Prior to the date that services are first provided to the client, a home care provider must provide to the client or the client's representative a written statement which identifies if the provider has a basic or comprehensive home care license, the services the provider is authorized to provide, and which services the provider cannot provide under the scope of the provider's license.

Related Statutes

• Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.4791, subdivision 3 

Definitions

Home care service. "Home care service" means any of the following services delivered in the home of a person whose illness, disability, or physical condition creates a need for the service:

1. assistive tasks provided by unlicensed personnel;
2. services provided by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, dietitian or nutritionist, or social worker;
3. medication and treatment management services; or
4. the provision of durable medical equipment services when provided with any of the home care services listed in clauses (1) to (3).

Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.43, subdivision 3 

Home care provider. "Home care provider" means an individual, organization, association, corporation, unit of government, or other entity that is regularly engaged in the delivery of at least one home care service, directly in a client's home for a fee and who has a valid current temporary license or license issued under sections Minnesota Statutes, sections 144A.43 to 144A.482. Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.43, subdivision 4. 

Basic home care license provider. Home care services that can be provided with a basic home care license are assistive tasks provided by licensed or unlicensed personnel that include:

1. assisting with dressing, self-feeding, oral hygiene, hair care, grooming, toileting, and bathing;
2. providing standby assistance;
3. providing verbal or visual reminders to the client to take regularly scheduled medication, which includes bringing the client previously set-up medication, medication in original containers, or liquid or food to accompany the medication;
4. providing verbal or visual reminders to the client to perform regularly scheduled treatments and exercises;
5. preparing modified diets ordered by a licensed health professional; and
6. assisting with laundry, housekeeping, meal preparation, shopping, or other household chores and services if the provider is also providing at least one of the activities in clauses (1) to (5).

Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.471, subdivision 6

Comprehensive home care license provider. Home care services that may be provided with a comprehensive home care license include any of the basic home care services listed in subdivision 6, and one or more of the following:

1. services of an advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, dietitian or nutritionist, or social worker;
2. tasks delegated to unlicensed personnel by a registered nurse or assigned by a licensed health professional within the person's scope of practice;
3. medication management services;
4. hands-on assistance with transfers and mobility;
5. treatment and therapies;
6. assisting clients with eating when the clients have complicating eating problems as identified in the client record or through an assessment such as difficulty swallowing, recurrent lung aspirations, or requiring the use of a tube or parenteral or intravenous instruments to be fed; or
7. providing other complex or specialty health care services. 

Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.471, subdivision 7 

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