Do I need a license to start a home care agency in Georgia?
Georgia’s private home care rule says an entity that provides private home care at a patient’s home, directly or through employees, contractors or referrals, must hold a DCH license, with limited exemptions. Medicaid waiver enrollment is separate. Call the DCH Private Home Care Program at 404-657-5700 to confirm which one you need.
In Georgia, an agency may not operate private home care without a license or provisional license from the Department of Community Health (Rule 111-8-65-.05). The license covers entities that provide private home care at a patient’s residence, whether directly, through employees or agents, through contractors, or through referrals.
Some things are exempt. For example, an individual who provides services directly without employees, contractors or referrals, and licensed home health agencies.
License is one step. If you want to be paid by Georgia Medicaid waivers, you also need to enroll in the program. Georgia’s waiver manual says new applicants without prior experience are limited to one service at the time of application, with a few exceptions.
Other things you will need: a background check for owners who take part in running the business, trained staff, an administrator, service agreements for each client and an EVV account.
Fees are paid through the DCH Payment Portal, and current fees are in the Private Home Care Application packet. Call (404) 657-5700 or read the rules on the Georgia Secretary of State rules site before you spend money on setup.
Sources
- Private Home Care Program · Georgia DCH
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 111-8-65-.09 Administration and Organization (private home care providers) · Cornell Legal Information Institute (Georgia rules)
- Part I: EDWP (CCSP and SOURCE) General Services Policies and Procedures, Q3 July 2026 · Georgia Medicaid (GAMMIS)
- Georgia Enacts New Background Check Legislation for Long-Term Care Providers (May 15, 2018) · Arnall Golden Gregory (law firm)
Reviewed by Beth Bledsoe, Care Business Advisor®, 28 Oct 2026. Rules change. Confirm with your state Medicaid agency before you act.
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