How to start a home care agency in Connecticut and reach your first client faster
Connecticut splits home care between two agencies. Nonmedical care is a Department of Consumer Protection registration with a surety bond, strict advertising and client notice rules, and paid caregiver training from January 1, 2027. Skilled care is a Department of Public Health license with an onsite inspection. Medicaid clients come through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, which needs separate credentialing and enrollment. We put all of it in the right order for you.
- Guides reviewed by Christine Ochimas, RN, LMFT, MBA
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- Christine OchimasRN, LMFT, MBA
- All three care typesNonmedical, home health, hospice
- Written to Connecticut rulesConn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400o, Regs. § 20-670-1 et seq. and DCP guidance
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Updated November 2026 · Reviewed by Christine Ochimas, RN, LMFT, MBA
Answer two questions. See exactly what Connecticut requires.
Nonmedical home care for CHCPE clients
- State license
- DCP Homemaker-Companion Agency registration; DSS provider enrollment on top
- Who you deal with
- DCP, the Department of Social Services, GT Independence (credentialing) and CHCPE care managers
- Must haves
- DCP registration, GT Independence credentialing, DSS provider enrollment online, electronic visit verification, home care worker registry reporting, trained and screened caregivers
- Realistic time to first client
- Several months
Orientation for Connecticut only. We confirm your exact path on the free call.
Three places new Connecticut agencies lose months
Each one keeps you paying rent, insurance and payroll while no clients arrive.
Advertising that breaks the nonmedical rules
Connecticut tells homemaker-companion agencies exactly how to talk about themselves. Names should avoid words like nurse, health or medical, ads cannot mention diagnoses or staff medical credentials, and every ad, web page and social post must say at the top that the agency solely provides nonmedical care. New owners often build a website and brochure before they learn this.
What it costs: Money spent twice on branding and marketing, plus exposure to DCP enforcement.
Registered with DCP, but no Medicaid referrals
DCP registration lets you sell private pay care. To serve clients of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), DSS requires credentialing by GT Independence first, then online enrollment through the DSS provider portal, then EVV. Care managers can only offer clients the agencies that have finished this.
What it costs: Months of payroll and rent with caregivers ready and no CHCPE clients.
The 2027 training rule and the client paperwork
From January 1, 2027, each new employee needs eight hours of paid training from DCP approved courses within 90 days of starting, with signed completion forms. DCP rules also require a person centered service plan, a signed nonmedical care notice, 60 days' notice before a rate change and the caregiver's name before the first visit.
What it costs: Unpaid training hours eating your margin, and files that fail a DCP records request.
What does a delay cost your agency?
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Home care vs home health vs hospice in Connecticut
The three sound alike and are regulated differently. The one you choose decides your regulator, staffing, startup capital and timeline.
| Topic | Nonmedical home care | Home health (skilled) | Hospice |
|---|---|---|---|
| What your staff do | Homemaker and companion services: help with personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, walks and companionship | Professional nursing plus at least one more service such as home health aide, physical, occupational or speech therapy, or medical social services | Palliative and supportive care for people who are terminally ill, and their families |
| State license | DCP Homemaker-Companion Agency registration (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-670 et seq.) | DPH home health care agency license (Regs. §§ 19-13-D66 to 19-13-D79); aide only agencies hold a separate DPH home health aide agency license | Hospice approval added to a DPH home health care agency license (Regs. § 19-13-D72(b)(2)) |
| Certificate of Need | No | No Certificate of Need under current law | No Certificate of Need under current law |
| Main payers | Private pay, CHCPE (Medicaid and state funded portions); PCA services only under a DSS contract | Medicare, HUSKY Health (Medicaid), commercial insurance | Medicare hospice benefit, HUSKY Health (Medicaid), commercial insurance |
| Medicare | Not covered | Accreditation or state survey, then Medicare enrollment, once the CMS moratorium ends | Accreditation or state survey, then Medicare enrollment, once the CMS moratorium ends |
| Key staff | A supervisor who oversees each caregiver as the service plan describes; screened and trained caregivers | Full time administrator, RN supervisor of clinical services, professional advisory committee, a full time nurse who supervises aides | Home health leadership plus a hospice interdisciplinary team |
| Startup capital | Lowest | Higher: clinical payroll before Medicare revenue | Highest: interdisciplinary team before revenue |
| Time to first client | Weeks (private pay) to months (CHCPE) | Longest: licensure, inspection, survey, enrollment | Longest: home health license first, then hospice approval |
DCP does not register agencies licensed by DPH as home health care or home health aide agencies, and DPH does not license homemaker-companion agencies. DCP says a licensed home health agency that wants to sell nonmedical companion care should form a separate entity and register it with DCP. Many Connecticut owners start with a homemaker-companion agency and add a DPH licensed agency later. We plan both from day one so your entities, policies and hiring are set up the right way.
Connecticut requirements at a glance
| Nonmedical home care | Homemaker-Companion Agency registration with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), License Services Division, under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400o. One registration covers all locations. |
|---|---|
| Fee, bond and renewal | $375 application fee, $375 annual renewal, registrations expire every October 31; surety bond or insurance of at least $10,000 that covers theft by an employee |
| Home health and hospice licensing | Department of Public Health (DPH), Facility Licensing and Investigations Section. Home health care agencies under Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19-13-D66 to 19-13-D79; in home hospice is added to that license |
| Certificate of Need | Not required for home health agencies or hospice services under current law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-638(b)) |
| Medicaid home care route | Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), run by the Department of Social Services (DSS) for residents 65 and older; providers are credentialed by GT Independence, then enroll with DSS |
| Caregiver training | None required for homemaker-companions until January 1, 2027; then eight paid hours within 90 days of hire plus continuing education (Public Act 26-50). Home health aides need at least 75 hours of training and a competency evaluation |
| Background screening | Comprehensive background check before hire, including criminal history and the sex offender registry (DCP); fingerprint based checks through the DPH Long-Term Care Background Search Program for home health and hospice direct care staff |
| Home care worker registry | Homemaker-companion, home health and hospice agencies report each worker to the DSS home care worker registry (Public Act 24-39) |
| Electronic visit verification | Required by DSS for CHCPE, PCA and ABI clients and for home health services; DSS works with Sandata |
| Medicare (home health, hospice) | Accreditation (DPH names The Joint Commission, CHAP and ACHC) or a state survey, then Medicare enrollment; new enrollment paused by a CMS moratorium from May 13, 2026 |
Summary of Connecticut requirements as of November 2026. Rules change; confirm with each agency before filing.
Step by step: launching a home care agency in Connecticut
The order matters. Your name, website and ads must follow DCP's nonmedical rules before you launch, and GT Independence credentialing must come before DSS enrollment, so start steps 6 and 7 long before your first CHCPE client.
Form the business with the Secretary of the State
Register your LLC or corporation and keep it in good standing, get an EIN, then register with the Department of Revenue Services for withholding, the Department of Labor for unemployment insurance and CT Paid Leave once you have employees. Choose a name without words like nurse, nursing, health, healthcare or medical.
You do this; we give you the checklistDecide your payer mix
Private pay, CHCPE or both. CHCPE pays for companion and homemaker services for residents 65 and older, but only after credentialing and DSS enrollment. Use the path finder above.
Decided on your free consultationSet up the bond, insurance and payroll
Buy a surety bond or insurance of at least $10,000 that covers theft from a client by an employee, plus workers' compensation, liability and auto coverage. Build Connecticut paid sick leave into payroll: one hour for every 30 hours worked, and from January 1, 2027 it applies to employers with one or more employees.
You do this; we specify what is requiredRegister with DCP
Apply online through eLicense or on the paper application with the $375 fee. DCP runs a state and national criminal history check on the applicant and every owner, member or officer. Registrations expire every October 31, and an approval within 90 days of that date moves to the next cycle.
We prepare the applicationWrite policies and client documents to DCP rules
Prepare a person centered service plan or contract given within seven days of starting services, a nonmedical care notice the client signs, DCP's complaint guide, a gift and complaint policy, 60 days' written notice before rate changes, the caregiver's name before the first visit and 10 days' notice before you end services. Every ad must state that your agency solely provides nonmedical care.
We write this for youBuild the caregiver pipeline
Before hiring, interview in person or by video, confirm identity and Social Security number, and run a criminal history and sex offender registry check. Collect the signed employee certification, train staff as mandated reporters and report each worker to the DSS home care worker registry. From January 1, 2027, deliver eight hours of paid training from DCP approved courses within 90 days of hire.
We set up the system and trackerGet credentialed and enroll for CHCPE
DSS requires CHC service providers to be credentialed by GT Independence first. Then complete the online enrollment wizard on the DSS provider portal (ctdssmap.com); paper applications are no longer accepted. Read the provider manual and bulletins for billing rules.
We prepare and manage itSet up EVV and meet the care managers
DSS requires electronic visit verification for CHCPE clients and works with Sandata. Set it up before your first visit, then introduce your agency to the CHCPE care managers in your area, since they offer clients a choice of providers.
We walk you through setup
Homemaker-companion training and background checks
Until now Connecticut set no training minimum for homemaker-companions. Public Act 26-50 changes that on January 1, 2027, and DCP's guidance sets out what agencies must provide. Background checks are already required before anyone is hired.
- Initial training from 2027: Eight hours of paid training within 90 days of a new employee's start date, from DCP's approved list. Topics include a clean and safe environment (help with dressing, bathing and toileting), recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect, changes in a client's condition, and dementia care for workers who serve those clients.
- Continuing education: At least eight paid hours from DCP's approved annual list, which DCP's guidance says is due at least once every two calendar years. Topics include communication and the difference between medical and nonmedical care.
- Portability and records: A worker who finished initial training at another agency within the past three years can show proof instead. The agency and worker sign DCP's completion form; keep a copy and give one to the worker.
- Comprehensive background check: Before hire: review the application, interview in person or by video, confirm Social Security number, identity and citizenship, and run a criminal history check that includes the public sex offender registry. Keep the records for DCP.
- Employee certification: Each employee signs the certification required by Regs. § 20-670-2(a). Independent contractors and pool staff count as employees under the statute.
- Home health aides: Aides of a DPH licensed agency must complete a training program of at least 75 hours and a competency evaluation approved by DPH, and aides deemed trained receive ten hours of agency orientation.
- Fingerprint checks for licensed agencies: Newly hired direct care staff of home health and hospice agencies get fingerprint based state and national checks through the DPH Long-Term Care Background Search Program (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-491c).
- Home care worker registry: Homemaker-companion, home health, home health aide and hospice agencies enter each worker in the DSS home care worker registry, including job title, hire date and training completed.
Six mistakes that slow Connecticut agencies down
We look for every one of these in the first week of an engagement.
Using medical words in your name or ads
- What it costs
- A rebrand after launch, and possible DCP enforcement for advertising beyond your registration.
- How we prevent it
- We check your name, website and brochure against DCP's nonmedical advertising rules before you launch.
Leaving off the nonmedical care statement
- What it costs
- Ads, web pages and social posts that lack the required statement at the top break the rules from day one.
- How we prevent it
- Templates for every ad and page with the statement placed where DCP requires it.
Letting companions do medical tasks
- What it costs
- Giving medications, checking blood pressure or wound care is outside a homemaker-companion registration and puts clients and your agency at risk.
- How we prevent it
- Clear service definitions, caregiver job descriptions and a signed nonmedical care notice for every client.
Pricing 2027 contracts without paid training
- What it costs
- Eight paid hours per new worker within 90 days, plus continuing education, comes out of your margin.
- How we prevent it
- A training tracker and a bill rate that includes the hours from the start.
Assuming DCP registration opens CHCPE
- What it costs
- Months without Medicaid clients because GT Independence credentialing and DSS enrollment never started.
- How we prevent it
- We start credentialing as soon as your DCP registration is issued and manage DSS enrollment.
Applying to DPH before you are ready
- What it costs
- An incomplete file is closed after nine months, and a failed licensure inspection means starting the application over.
- How we prevent it
- We hire leadership, write policies and prepare the attestation before the inspection is scheduled.
In a free 30 minute call we confirm your Connecticut path, flag the mistakes that apply to your plan, and give you a fixed price to handle the rest.
Connecticut launch packages
Three fixed price packages, matched to the path you choose. Your exact price is quoted in writing after your free call, before any work starts.
Private pay launch
For nonmedical agencies serving families who pay privately.
- Connecticut path and a dated launch plan
- Policy and procedure manual written to Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400o, Regs. § 20-670-1 et seq. and DCP guidance
- Service agreement, client rights and care plan forms
- Caregiver hiring and screening workflow
- Google Business Profile setup
CHCPE ready agency
Everything in Private pay launch, plus the Medicaid route.
- Policies aligned to CHCPE requirements
- Caregiver training and background check tracker
- Medicaid provider enrollment
- Credentialing packets for GT Independence credentialing and DSS provider enrollment
- Survey and audit readiness
- Connecticut city pages for local search
Home health and Medicare
For skilled home health. Hospice is scoped separately.
- Staffing and capital timeline
- Policies written to DPH rules and the Medicare Conditions of Participation
- License application and inspection readiness
- Accreditation survey preparation
- Medicare and Medicaid enrollment support
Every package: one fixed price agreed in writing · you own 100% of your agency · no franchise fees or royalties.
On your own vs a franchise vs Lunaria
| Topic | On your own | Home care franchise | With Lunaria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the business | You | You, under the franchisor's brand and rules | You, 100% |
| Ongoing fees | None | Royalties and brand fees, usually a share of revenue | None. One fixed project fee |
| Knowing what Connecticut requires | Pieced together from manuals and forums | A national playbook, adapted | Confirmed on your first call, then in writing |
| Policy manual | A template, often from another state | The franchisor's standard manual | Written to Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400o, Regs. § 20-670-1 et seq. and DCP guidance |
| Medicaid credentialing | One application at a time | Varies by franchisor | Packets for GT Independence credentialing and DSS provider enrollment prepared together |
| Your brand and marketing | Up to you | The franchisor's brand, with territory limits | Your brand, plus local search set up for you |
The Connecticut home care startup checklist
Every Connecticut step in order: business setup, your payer path, policies, caregiver screening and training, Medicaid enrollment and getting found. The items to start first are starred.
- Choose your care type and payer mix (private pay, CHCPE, or both)
- Pick a name without nurse, nursing, health, healthcare or medical
- Form your LLC or corporation with the Secretary of the State
- Get an EIN; register with DRS for withholding, the Department of Labor for unemployment insurance and CT Paid Leave
- Buy a $10,000 surety bond or insurance that covers employee theft
- and 15 more steps
Christine Ochimas, RN, LMFT, MBA
Christine founded Lunaria Care Consulting to give nurses and caregivers a direct route from "I want my own agency" to a compliant business with clients. She reads state requirements the way a reviewer does and writes policies the way a nurse would actually use them.
- We serve owners in all 50 states and DC, with a plan written for Connecticut
- We help through enrollment and survey readiness, not just the application
- We tell you what we cannot promise: no one can guarantee a state or health plan decision
Have these ready for your consultation
- The care you want to provide and the clients you want to serve
- The Connecticut cities or counties you plan to cover
- Where you are now: idea, business formed or already operating
- Who you expect to pay: families, CHCPE, Medicare
- Your target opening month and rough budget
No client or patient records. We never need them for a first call.
What it costs to start a home care agency in Connecticut
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| DCP registration | $375 application fee and $375 annual renewal, paid to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut. Check current fees with DCP. |
| Surety bond | At least $10,000 of coverage, including theft by an employee. The premium depends on your insurer and agency size. |
| Entity formation | Secretary of the State filing and annual report fees for your LLC or corporation |
| Background checks | Vendor fees for criminal history and registry checks on every caregiver; fingerprinting costs for home health and hospice staff |
| Paid training from 2027 | Eight paid hours per new worker, continuing education hours, and any course fees |
| Insurance | Workers' compensation, general and professional liability, auto coverage |
| EVV and scheduling software | Needed for CHCPE and home health visits paid by DSS |
| DPH license (home health, hospice) | DPH charges licensing and inspection fees under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-491. Ask DPH for the current amount. |
| Accreditation (home health, hospice) | Accrediting organization application and survey fees |
| Operating reserve | Covers payroll, rent and insurance while credentialing, DSS enrollment or Medicare enrollment are pending |
Fees change. Confirm current amounts with each agency before budgeting.
How long it takes in Connecticut
Weeks, once DCP registration, the bond, insurance and your hiring process are in place. DCP lists no inspection before opening.
Several months: DCP registration, then GT Independence credentialing, DSS enrollment and EVV setup.
Longest: DPH application, onsite inspection, hospice approval if needed, certification survey and Medicare enrollment once the CMS moratorium allows it.
Connecticut is a state of towns, and families search for care by town name, often while living somewhere else and arranging help for a parent. Town pages and a complete Google Business Profile match how people look for care in places like Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and the smaller towns around them. CHCPE care managers offer clients a choice of providers, so steady relationships with care managers in each region you serve matter as much as enrollment itself, and reliable staffing is your selling point in the more rural corners of the state.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to start a nonmedical home care agency in Connecticut?
You need a registration rather than a license. Nonmedical agencies register as Homemaker-Companion Agencies with the Department of Consumer Protection under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400o before doing business. Agencies that provide nursing or home health aide services need a Department of Public Health license instead.
How much does Connecticut homemaker-companion registration cost?
The application fee is $375, and the registration renews every year by October 31 for $375. You also need a surety bond or insurance of at least $10,000 that covers theft by an employee. Budget for background checks, insurance and, from 2027, paid caregiver training.
What can a Connecticut homemaker-companion do?
Nonmedical help such as cooking, laundry, light cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping, help with personal hygiene, walks and conversation. DCP says they may not provide medical services, give medications or shots, check blood pressure, provide wound care, direct physical therapy or create special diets.
Do Connecticut homemaker-companions need training?
Starting January 1, 2027, Public Act 26-50 requires eight hours of paid training within 90 days of a new employee's start, from DCP approved courses, plus at least eight paid hours of continuing education. A worker trained at another agency within three years can show proof instead of repeating initial training.
Who licenses home health and hospice agencies in Connecticut?
The Department of Public Health, through its Facility Licensing and Investigations Section. Home health care agencies follow Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 19-13-D66 to 19-13-D79. An in home hospice must first be licensed as a home health care agency, then have hospice services approved on that license.
Does Connecticut require a Certificate of Need for home health or hospice?
Not under current law. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-638(b) lists home health agencies and hospice services among those that do not need a Certificate of Need. A 2026 law moves the program to a new panel supported by DPH from July 1, 2027, so check for changes before you plan.
Can a homemaker-companion agency serve Medicaid clients in Connecticut?
Yes, through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders. Providers must be credentialed by GT Independence, then enroll online with DSS. CHCPE care managers build each client's plan of care and offer a choice of providers. EVV is required for CHCPE visits.
Can I enroll a new home health agency or hospice in Medicare right now?
CMS put a nationwide six month moratorium on new Medicare enrollment of home health agencies and hospices starting May 13, 2026. It can be extended in six month steps, so it may have ended or been extended by the time you read this. Check its current status with CMS before you plan Medicare revenue.
How much does Connecticut home care consulting cost?
Lunaria charges one fixed price per engagement, based on your path: private pay, CHCPE or home health and Medicare. You receive the price in writing after a free 30 minute consultation. There are no hourly charges, and you own 100% of your agency.
Do you only work in Connecticut?
No. Lunaria works with owners in all 50 states and DC, so you can expand into a second state with the same team.
Sources checked for this guide (35)
- DCP Homemaker Companion Agency Registration (fees, bond, background checks, services, name rules)
- DCP Homemaker-Companion Agency Application and Instructions (Rev 10/18, $375 fee, owner criminal history checks)
- DCP Homemaker-Companion Agency training requirements (Public Act 26-50, updated September 30, 2026)
- DCP Requirements for homemaker-companion agencies (September 24, 2026)
- DCP Homemaker-Companion Agency 2023 Legislative Updates (Public Acts 23-48 and 23-99)
- DCP Homemaker-Companion Agencies hub
- DPH Home Health Unit (licensed agency types, hospice added to home health license, accrediting organizations)
- DPH Facility Licensing (application route, worksheets, eLicense renewals)
- DPH Initial License Work Sheet for Home Health Care Agency (Revised 9/2016)
- DPH Public Health Code §§ 19-13-D66 to 19-13-D79, home health care agencies (official PDF, current through 06/01/2006)
- Regs. Conn. State Agencies Chapter IV headings, home health care agency and homemaker-home health aide agency (Cornell LII)
- DPH Blast Fax 2025-15, Home Care Provider Registry (September 24, 2025)
- DSS Home Care Worker Registry FAQs (agency types that must register workers)
- DPH Long-Term Care Background Search Program (ABCMS)
- DSS Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
- DSS CHCPE related resources (GT Independence credentialing, online enrollment)
- DSS CHCPE brochure (referral, care managers, services, Medicaid and state funded portions)
- DSS Home care and long term services and supports
- DSS Electronic Visit Verification
- DSS For Providers (CT Medical Assistance Program portal, Gainwell)
- CT DOL Paid Sick Leave FAQs (phase in to employers with one or more employees on January 1, 2027)
- DRS Registering your business with DRS
- CT Paid Leave, register your business
- Connecticut Secretary of the State
- OHS Certificate of Need program (agency sunset June 30, 2026 under Public Act 26-68)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-638, Certificate of Need exemptions (FindLaw copy, current as of January 1, 2025)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-491, licensing fees (FindLaw copy, current as of January 1, 2025)
- CMS Provider Enrollment Moratoria (last modified 08/27/2026)
- CMS Home Health and Hospice Nationwide Moratorium Q&As (revised 7/09/26)
- Federal Register 2026-09717, nationwide moratorium on Medicare enrollment of HHAs (effective May 13, 2026)
- Federal Register 2026-09718, nationwide moratorium on Medicare enrollment of hospices
- CMS-855A Medicare enrollment application, institutional providers
- 42 CFR Part 484, home health Conditions of Participation (Cornell LII)
- 42 CFR Part 418, hospice care (Cornell LII)
- Pullman & Comley, Connecticut CON law overhaul (secondary, pointer only)
This guide is general information and reflects Connecticut requirements as we understood them in November 2026. Requirements change. Confirm current rules, fees and procedures with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Social Services and CMS before filing. Lunaria Care Consulting provides professional consulting services and does not provide legal advice.
Other states: see all state guides. What we do: licensing, compliance, Medicaid enrollment and local search marketing.