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: Authorizes Medicaid State Plan home health services and coordinates 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:

• Short-term recovery care or chronic condition management
• Coordinated therapy for rehabilitation goals
• Preventative support and family caregiver training
• Post-hospital discharge follow-up

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration and Facility Prep
Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: State Home Health Licensure Process
Timeline: 90–120 days

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment and MCO Credentialing
Timeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring, Training, and EHR Setup
Timeline: 1 month

Phase: Referrals and Care Plan Authorizations
Timeline: Rolling, based on provider network status and POC approval

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Louisiana Department of Health — Health Standards Section (Licensure)
Website: https://ldh.la.gov/page/282

​Louisiana Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal
Website: https://www.lamedicaid.com

​Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)
Website: https://ldh.la.gov

​Louisiana State Board of Nursing
Website: https://www.lsbn.state.la.us

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10. SCOPE OF WORK

• LDH Home Health Licensure and Medicaid enrollment
• Home Health Policy & Procedure Manual development
• Clinical documentation templates, MARs, and Plan of Care tools
• Staff credentialing checklists and training logs
• EHR setup support and audit-ready systems
• Referral strategy with hospitals, MCOs, and discharge planners

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