Nurse Registry Licensing, & Compliance
A nurse registry is a state-licensed business that screens and maintains a list of qualified nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides to refer to clients for in-home care
. These registries connect families with independent contractors (caregivers) for services ranging from companionship to skilled nursing care.
BENIFITS:
- Cost-Effective: Often lower overhead, allowing for reduced hourly rates, notes
- Flexibility: Easier to maintain the same caregiver, as they act as a private contractor for the client.
- Quality Control: Stringent screening of credentials and background before listing the caregiver.
- Independent Contractors: Caregivers are not employees of the registry, but independent contractors, which often makes this a lower-cost option compared to traditional home care agencies. This helps with payroll.
- Vetting Process: Registries screen caregivers by verifying licenses, credentials, testing and conducting background checks (FBI level 2 checks).
- Services Provided: They offer a variety of services, including skilled nursing (IV, wound care), Certified nursing Assistance, Home Health Aides, companionship, and personal care (bathing, dressing) and more.
- Regulations: In states like Florida, nurse registries are licensed entities that must adhere to specific standards, including emergency planning.
Start Up
- State Registration
- Employer Identification Number
- National Provider Identification
- Website
- Your_Name@website.com
- Virtual Phone Number
- Virtual Fax Number
- 500 Business Cards
- 500 Brochures
- Application (AHCA)
Cost of all of the above is approximately $7,500.00*
*Paid over a five month period ($3500 deposit, $1000 per month for four months)
Other Services
- Customized Policy and Procedure Manual $1500
- Customized Forms $500
- Customized Folders $700
- Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) $600
- Plan of Corrections $500
- Mock Inspection $1250
- Insurance Credentialing $ Call
- Hourly Consultation available
The primary difference between a nurse registry and a home health agency is the technical relationship between the homecare company and the caregivers. At home care agencies, caregivers are W-2 employees of the agency, whereas at nurse registries, caregivers are 1099 independent contractors engaged by the client.
This difference generally puts the client in greater control of their care – including their selection of a caregiver – at nurse registries, whereas the client can only make requests of a home health agency. Nonetheless, both models must use certified Home Health Aides and Nursing Assistants on whom the company has performed reference checks and federal level-II background screens. Accordingly, the overall quality of the caregivers and, by extension, the care provided in the home is exactly the same between homecare agencies and nurse registries.
In Florida, nurse registries have become the most prevalent model for matching clients with Home Health Aids for in-home care such as bathing, dressing, companionship, meal prep, errand assistance, transference, and other activities of daily living. As needs evolve, a nurse registry can also refer a Nursing Assistant or a Registered Nurse to provide higher-level care in the home.
Importantly, all long-term care insurance companies cover the cost of care arranged through a nurse registry. Other third-party payor programs including Medicaid, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ Aid and Attendance program and several Medicare Advantage plans also cover the services of a nurse registry.
