Louisiana Personal Care Services (PCS) license: Fixed-Price Application Support
$1,995.00
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Louisiana Home Care, Home Health & Hospice Licensing
Louisiana's Facility Need Review and two moratoriums can stall your launch. Expert help keeps you moving.
RegulatorLDH HSS
Typical timeline3 to 8 months
License routes3
Delivery100% Virtual
Licensing in Louisiana
Louisiana's Health Standards Section (HSS), within the Louisiana Department of Health, licenses home care and hospice. New PCA and Hospice providers first need Facility Need Review (FNR) approval under LAC 48:I Chapter 125. A moratorium (RS 40:2116.32 F.(1)) blocks new de novo HHA licenses, so most buyers acquire an existing agency (CHOW). Since May 2026, a six-month CMS moratorium also blocks new Medicare enrollment.
Your regulator
Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section (LDH HSS)
Official licensing page →License routes we cover in Louisiana
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Module
Non-medical home care agencies. An HCBS license sub-part from LDH HSS under LAC 48:I Chapters 50-51 and RS 40:2120.2 et seq.
Home Health Agency (HHA)
Skilled nursing plus a therapy under physician order at home. Under LAC 48:I Ch. 91 and RS 40:2116.32-33. De novo licenses face a moratorium; CHOW is the main route.
Hospice
Programs giving palliative, comfort care to terminally ill patients and families. Under LAC 48:I Ch. 82 and RS 40:2181 et seq. FNR approval is needed before licensure.
How we get you licensed
- 1Confirm your eligibility and route
For HCBS/PCA or Hospice, confirm the FNR path. For HHA, weigh de novo (moratorium, RS 40:2116.32 F.(1)) versus CHOW. Mind the CMS moratorium (May 13 to about November 2026).
- 2Submit the Facility Need Review (FNR) application (HCBS/PCA and Hospice only)
File with LDH HSS via AccessGov (la.accessgov.com/hss), or mail to P.O. Box 3767, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Pay the $200 non-refundable fee. Review takes up to 60 days from a complete packet.
- 3Complete mandatory LDH training (HCBS/PCA)
HCBS applicants must finish LDH's online training videos and print the certificates before the license application is accepted. This runs alongside FNR review.
- 4Submit the HSS initial licensing application
After FNR approval, submit the HSS application with attachments: background checks, a $50,000 (HCBS) or $75,000 (HHA/Hospice) line of credit, $300,000 liability insurance (DOH as certificate holder), workers' comp, ownership disclosure, org chart, and emergency preparedness addendum.
- 5Admit one client and pass the on-site survey
HCBS agencies must admit one client within 30 days of training, then schedule the HSS survey. A clean survey earns a full license; minor issues may bring a provisional one for up to six months. Hospice and HHA follow federal Conditions of Participation.
- 6Enroll in Medicaid and Medicare after licensing
After licensing, enroll in Louisiana Medicaid (Community Choices Waiver for HCBS/PCA). HHA and Hospice file CMS 855A with the MAC, plus CMS 417 and 1561. The Medicare moratorium (from May 13, 2026) blocks new HHA and Hospice enrollment for six months.
How long does it take?
Typical time to a live license in Louisiana. Times assume a complete, accurate application; missing items add time.
- Personal Care Services
- 3 to 8 months
- Hospice
- Similar, plus Medicare certification (delayed to ~Nov 2026)
- Home Health (buy an existing agency)
- 3 to 6 months once you find a seller
Key Louisiana requirements
- FNR approval from LDH HSS is required before any HCBS/PCA or Hospice application.
- Line of credit from a federally insured lender: $50,000 (HCBS) or $75,000 (HHA/Hospice).
- General and professional liability of $300,000 (DOH as certificate holder), plus workers' comp.
- Louisiana State Police background checks on all owners, board members, and the administrator; some felonies disqualify.
- HCBS applicants must finish LDH training videos and print certificates before the on-site survey.
- CMS forms 855A, 417, and 1561 filed with the MAC; moratorium runs through about November 2026.
Traps that catch new owners
- The de novo HHA moratorium (RS 40:2116.32 F.(1)) is a hidden hard stop; CHOW is the only real route.
- An incomplete FNR packet stalls you: the 60-day clock only starts once the full packet arrives.
- The CMS moratorium (May 13 to about November 13, 2026) blocks Medicare enrollment; a state license alone can't bill Medicare.
Louisiana licensing packages
Fixed price, agreed in writing before any work begins. Each package is prepared and submitted for you, fully online.
Louisiana licensing FAQs
Can I start a brand-new Home Health Agency in Louisiana right now without buying an existing one?
Right now, no. A brand-new (de novo) HHA license faces two blocks: Louisiana's moratorium (RS 40:2116.32 F.(1)) and the federal CMS Medicare moratorium through about November 2026. Most people enter by buying an existing licensed HHA through a Change of Ownership (CHOW).
Does the CMS Medicare moratorium stop me from getting a Louisiana license for Personal Care or Hospice?
No. The moratorium only affects Medicare enrollment, not state licensing or Medicaid. Your HCBS/PCA license and Medicaid (Community Choices Waiver) can proceed normally. A Hospice state license can too, but new Medicare enrollment, needed for most hospice pay, stays blocked during the moratorium.
What is the Facility Need Review, and why does it matter for a Personal Care license?
The FNR is a required LDH HSS committee review under LAC 48:I Chapter 125. It decides if the market needs another provider before your application is accepted. For the PCA module, it comes first. The $200 non-refundable fee filed via AccessGov starts the up-to-60-day review.
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