Every answer was written and checked ahead of time, with the official document next to it. Nothing is made up on the spot.
Do I need a license to run a non-medical home care agency in Montana?
No state license in the documents we hold.
The Licensure Bureau's application letters cover home health agencies and hospices. The Big Sky Waiver lists no license for personal assistance or home care agencies, and its manual's list of licenses it checks doesn't include them. The Community First Choice state plan says providers qualify by enrolling with Medicaid. To bill Medicaid, you enroll as a provider and meet the program's rules, such as employing a licensed nurse supervisor for agency-based CFC/PAS. Home health agencies and hospices do need a state license. Montana law's definition of "health care facility" (MCA 50-5-101) names home health agencies and hospices but no personal care or home care agency, and home health services must include a licensed registered nurse and at least one other therapeutic service. That section only defines terms; we don't hold the section that requires the license.
Sources (6)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
How do I get a home health agency license in Montana?
Apply to the DPHHS Licensure Bureau.
Send the application and fee, policies and procedures at least 45 days before opening, the counties you will serve, your professional staff with license numbers, and an administrator attestation. No Certificate of Need is needed. You first get a six-month provisional license and an on-site survey, and you may not accept patients until you are licensed.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
How long does a Montana health care facility license last?
One to three years.
ARM 37.106.310 allows licenses for up to three years. A three-year license can follow a deficiency-free survey, accreditation by a CMS-approved body, or a passing survey by another recognized department entity. Facilities open less than a year, or with a change of ownership, can get one year.
Sources (2)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
What training do personal care attendants need in Montana?
16 hours before starting, then 8 hours a year.
Agency-based CFC/PAS attendants need 16 hours of basic training on 10 topics, overseen by a licensed nurse, before they work in a member's home. They then need 8 hours of in-service training each year, starting in their second year. An agency can waive basic training for attendants with CNA or home health aide training or one year of qualifying experience, if they pass a competency check; they then need 8 hours of in-service training in their first year.
Sources (2)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Which EVV system do Montana providers use?
Netsmart's Mobile Caregiver+, free.
You can use another system if DPHHS certifies it and it sends data to Netsmart. Since July 1, 2024, claims for EVV services not submitted through Netsmart are denied. EVV covers CFC, personal care, the Big Sky Waiver and other waivers, home health and private duty nursing.
Sources (3)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Do live-in caregivers have to use EVV in Montana?
Yes.
DPHHS decided to require EVV for live-in caregivers. The CFC/personal care EVV policy (July 2026) says live-ins may log care as on-the-fly visits or schedule blocks of time when most care happens.
Sources (2)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Can a caregiver use a landline instead of the EVV app?
Only with DPHHS approval.
Members can apply for IVR (phone check-in) if they can't get a device, or live in a remote area with little or no cell service and no internet. IVR shifts must be scheduled ahead in the Netsmart portal. Approved requests stay valid but are reviewed periodically; the state aims to decide within two weeks.
Sources (3)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Are home care staff mandated reporters of abuse in Montana?
Yes, in these Medicaid programs.
The CFC/PAS manual says everyone employed by an agency in these Medicaid services must report suspected abuse or neglect to APS or Child Protective Services. The agency must also file a Serious Occurrence Report in QAMS, the state's Quality Assurance Management System, within 10 working days of the incident being reported. APS takes reports at 1-844-277-9300 (weekdays) or aps.mt.gov (any time).
Sources (2)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Are there Medicaid health plans in Montana?
None that our documents mention.
Montana Medicaid pays agencies directly. Most Big Sky Waiver services are paid fee-for-service from published fee schedules, and CFC/PAS pays set unit rates. Agency personal assistance is $9.23 per 15 minutes on the July 1, 2025 schedule, the newest we hold; DPHHS has since posted July 1, 2026 schedules.
Sources (5)
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Do I still need a Passport referral for Medicaid claims?
Not for services after June 30, 2026.
Passport to Health ended June 30, 2026, and Primary Care Montana began July 1. Claims for dates of service on or before June 30 still need the Passport referral ID. Other prior authorization and medical order rules continue.
Written and checked September 23, 2026