28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries

What this rule requires your agency to do

• 1Prior to hiring or rostering a direct care worker, the agency/registry must conduct a face-to-face interview, obtain at least two satisfactory verifiable references, and require a criminal history report and (if applicable) a ChildLine verification (§ 611.51).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 2Before assigning a direct care worker, the agency/registry must ensure the worker holds a valid PA nurse's license or has passed a competency examination or completed an approved training program covering required subject areas (confidentiality, IADLs, infection control, universal precautions, emergencies, documentation, abuse/neglect reporting, and personal-care topics for personal care workers), with documentation in the worker's file; competency must be reviewed at least once per year after initial competency is established (§ 611.55).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 3Prior to commencing services, the agency/registry must give the consumer an information packet (services, hours, fees, licensure/complaint contacts including the Department Hot Line 1-866-826-3644, hiring/competency requirements, and the employee/independent-contractor disclosure), provide at least 10 calendar days advance written notice before terminating services, and maintain documentation of compliance available for Department inspection (§ 611.57).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 4Each direct care worker and staff/contractor with direct consumer contact must, prior to consumer contact, provide documentation of TB screening (per CDC guidelines) dated no more than 1 year before the start date, and must update the screening at least every 12 months (§ 611.56).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 5Provisional hire pending background results may not exceed 30 days for a 2-year-plus PA resident (90 days otherwise), the applicant must swear in writing they are not disqualified, and the agency must monitor the provisional hire through random direct observation and consumer feedback documented in the file (§ 611.54).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 6Each physical location operating as a home care agency or home care registry must be separately licensed by the Department of Health, and must submit a renewal application with a $100 fee at least 60 days prior to the license expiration date (§ 611.2).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 7An agency/registry serving persons under 18 must obtain a ChildLine child abuse clearance for each direct care worker and office staff member and may not employ, roster, or retain anyone verified as a founded/indicated perpetrator of child abuse (§ 611.53).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 8The agency/registry must obtain a criminal history report for each direct care worker applicant, office staff, and owners; a PA State Police record is required for 2-year-plus residents and a federal record plus Department of Aging letter of determination for shorter-term residents; the agency may not hire, roster, or retain an individual with a prohibited conviction (§ 611.52).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)
• 9A current copy of Chapter 611 must be maintained at the home care agency or registry (§ 611.4(a)).(28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 — Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries)