How to Choose a Home Health Care Agency

Finding the right home health care agency / visiting nurse association is one of the most important decisions you can make for yourself or a loved one.

Home health agencies vary significantly in quality, services, and approach to care. Taking the time to evaluate your options carefully will help ensure you receive safe, compassionate, and effective care in the comfort of your own home.

Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below can help you in your search.
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Question:  What licensure & certifications should I look for?
Answer:  Any home health agency operating in New Jersey must be licensed by the state. If you plan to use Medicare or Medicaid to pay for services, the agency must also be Medicare-certified. These credentials are not optional — they are your first line of protection.

• Licensed by the State of New Jersey Department of Health
• Medicare and/or Medicaid certified (if applicable to your coverage)
• Accredited by a recognized body such as CHAP, JCAHO, or ACHC
• Good standing record — no recent sanctions or adverse actions

Question:  Do all agencies offer the same range of services?
Answer:  No, not every agency offers the same range of care. Confirm that the agency can meet your specific medical and personal needs — both today and as those needs change over time.

• Skilled nursing care (wound care, medication management, IV therapy)
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Personal care and home health aide services
• Medical social work and care coordination
• 24-hour on-call availability for urgent concerns

Question:  How can I evaluate staff qualifications and training?
Answer:  The quality of your care depends entirely on the people who deliver it. Ask about how staff are hired, trained, supervised, and how the agency handles continuity of care.

• All staff are licensed, bonded, and insured
• Background checks are performed on all employees
• Ongoing training and competency evaluations in place
• Consistent assignment (the same caregiver visits when possible)

Question:  How do I evaluate and review quality & outcomes data?
Answer:  Medicare publishes publicly available data on home health agency performance at Medicare.gov/care-compare. Look at how agencies score on patient outcomes, hospitalization rates, and patient satisfaction surveys.

• Check star ratings on Medicare Care Compare
• Ask for the agency's HHCAHPS patient satisfaction scores
• Ask about their rehospitalization rate
• Request references from former patients or family members

Question:  What are some other important questions to ask any prospective agency?
Answer:  Here are 10 important questions to ask. You may have additional questions depending on patient's needs and the answers received.

• Are you Medicare/Medicaid certified?
• How quickly can services begin?
• Who supervises the aides and nurses?
• Is there a nurse available 24/7 by phone?
• How are care plans developed?
• Will I see the same caregiver each visit?
• How do you handle emergencies?
• Do you coordinate with my doctor?
• What insurance plans do you accept?
• How are complaints handled?

NOTE: Be cautious of any agency that pressures you into a decision quickly, is unwilling to provide credentials and references, offers unusually low prices, or cannot clearly explain what is, or is not, covered by insurance. A reputable agency will answer all questions to your satisfaction.

Question:  What do I need to know about insurance & payment options?
Answer:  Before services begin, get a clear picture of what will be covered and what you may owe out-of-pocket. A good agency will help you navigate this.

• Verify they accept your insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance)
• Ask for a written estimate of any costs not covered by insurance
• Understand the billing cycle and how disputes are resolved
• Confirm what happens if your care needs change mid-service​

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The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNANNJ) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence.

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© All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.

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