Home Services Agencies

Home Services Agencies provide services directly through workers providing home services for consumers primarily in their personal residences.  Services provided include assistance with activities of daily living, housekeeping, personal laundry, and companionship provided to an individual in his or her personal residence, which are intended to enable that individual to remain safely and comfortably in his or her own personal residence. 

For information on filing a complaint or checking the status of a current complaint, please visit our complaint section.  

The applicant shall review the Home Health, Home Services and Home Nursing Agency Code Adm. Code 245 to determine which license reflects the services that the agency /business will provide.  The applicant shall complete the initial licensing application located in the Forms.  The Department has 60 days to conduct an initial review of the application and will contact the applicant for revisions to be submitted for an acceptable application. Upon approval of the application the Department will send a letter requesting, a letter from the applicant as to the agency’s readiness for an onsite survey. The Department will schedule an onsite survey with the applicant to ensure the agency meets the regulations under Home Health, Home Services and Home Nursing Agency Code Adm. Code 245.

****PLEASE NOTE THAT THE APPLICATION/LICENSING PROCESS, FROM START TO FINISH, MAY TAKE UP TO 6 MONTHS****

• Rules and Regulations:  Home Services Rules and Regulations 
• Initial Application:  Home Health, Home Services, Home Nursing and Placement Agency Licensing Initial Application  

Yes the applicant shall complete the initial application and select all of the licenses the agency is applying for on page 2 of the application and shall pay the higher of the licensure fees applicable. A home nursing agency or a home service agency shall pay a licensure fee not to exceed $1500.  The fee is not refundable. A home nursing placement agency or home services placement agency shall pay a licensure fee not to exceed $500.  The fee is not refundable.  Home Health Agencies.  For a single home health agency license only, each initial and renewal application shall be accompanied by a license fee of $25. The fee is not refundable.

The agency must seek approval from the Department prior to caring for clients in a new county.  The agency shall submit the information outlined on the Forms “Home Services/Home Nursing Add or Remove Geographic Service Area” to the Department contact information below.

Branch Office – a location or site from which an agency provides services within a portion of the total geographic area served by the parent agency.  The branch office is part of the agency and is located sufficiently close to share administration, supervision and services in a manner that renders it unnecessary for the branch to be independently licensed. To apply for a branch office  complete the “Home Services/Home Nursing Branch Questionnaire” under the forms and submit to the Department the contact information on this page.

License Nontransferable

1. Each license shall be issued only for the specific agency named in the application and shall not be transferred or assigned to any other person, agency or corporation.
2. Sale, assignment, lease or other transfer, voluntary or involuntary, shall require relicensure by the new owner prior to maintaining, operating or conducting an agency.
3. In the case of agencies operating under a franchise arrangement, each unique business entity shall obtain and maintain a distinct license and shall not share licensure based on franchised name status.
4. A licensee shall notify the Department in writing at least 30 days in advance of any intention to:
   • Change ownership; or
   • Sell its agency.
5. A change of ownership happens when one of the following transactions occurs:
   • In an unincorporated sole proprietorship, when the property is transferred to another party;
   • A material change in a partnership that is caused by the removal, addition, or substitution of a partner;
   • In a corporation, when the provider corporation merges into another corporation, or the consolidation of two or more corporations, one of which is the licensee, resulting in the creation of a new corporation; or
   • The transfer of any corporation stock that results in a change of the person or persons who control the agency, or
   • The transfer of any stock in excess of 75 percent of the outstanding stock.
6. Pursuant to subsection (d)(5)(C), the transfer of corporate stock or the merger of another corporation into the licensee corporation does not constitute a change of ownership if the licensee corporation remains in existence. In these transactions, the name of the corporation, its officers, its independent subsidiaries, and any other relevant information that the Department may require shall be made available to the Department upon request.
7. If a sale of an agency causes a change in the person or persons who control or operate the agency, the agency is considered a new agency, and the licensee shall apply for a new license and shall comply with this Part and any other applicable State and federal rules.
8. Whenever ownership of an agency is sold from the person or organization named on the license to another person or organization, the new owner shall apply for a new license. The new owner shall file an application for license on the renewal/change of ownership application at least 45 days prior to the sale.
9. The Department shall issue a new license to a new owner who meets the requirements for licensure under this Part. The transactions described in this Section shall not be complete until the Department issues a new license to the new person, legal entity, or partnership. The former licensee shall return its license to the Department by certified mail.

The health care provider shall complete the IDPH “Facility Information Change Form” prior to the relocation and submit to the Department.

To ensure that your agency is prepared for their upcoming survey, please refer to the 'Surveillance Nurse Visit Checklist.'

• File a Complaint
• IL Compiled Statutes
• Initial License, Renewal License and CHOW Application Instructions
• Overview: Home Health, Home Services, Home Nursing
• Department of Aging
• Department of Human Services
• Home Services Directory
• Secretary of State – Starting a Business

• Instructions - Making Changes to your Home Services License
  
• Checklist for New Hire/Rehire Background Check

• Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act (210 ILCS 55)
• IDPH Administrative Code
• Health Care Worker background Check Act (225 ILCS 46)
• Health Care Worker Background Check Code 955

• Guidance for Common Deficiency Findings