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 Nebraska?
No, unless you provide respite or home health care.
Nebraska law calls attendant, companion and homemaker services that don't require medical or nursing judgment "in-home personal services" and does not treat them as a licensed health care service. The law does set worker qualifications and requires a criminal history check. A respite care service needs a license under 175 NAC 15, and an agency giving skilled nursing or home health aide services needs a home health agency license. The AD Waiver lists no license for agency personal care providers.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
What must I check before an in-home personal services worker starts?
Age, registries and criminal history.
Workers must be at least 18, of good moral character and able to speak the client's language or English. They must have no adverse findings on the Adult Protective Services, child abuse, Medication Aide, Nurse Aide or sex offender registries, and no conviction for a crime punishable by more than a year in prison that is related to their fitness for the work. The agency must run a criminal history check, plus a driving record check when driving is part of the service, and keep the records at its place of business.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Does a respite care business need a license?
Usually, yes.
A respite care service gives short-term temporary care when a person's primary caregiver is unavailable, and it is licensed under 175 NAC 15. The license expires October 31 each year; fees run from $50 for volunteer programs to $450 for a license capacity of 51 and up. Exemptions include a person who serves fewer than eight unrelated people in any seven-day period in their own home or the recipient's home, and some nonprofit group respite.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
How do I get and keep a home health agency license?
Apply to DHHS; renew by January 31.
Home health agencies are licensed by the DHHS Division of Public Health under 175 NAC 14. The initial fee is $650, and renewal is $650, $850 or $950 based on the past year's admissions. Licenses expire January 31 each year, and you must send a complete renewal application before then. Tell DHHS in writing at least 30 working days before you add a service or branch office.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Which Medicaid health plans are there in Nebraska?
Molina, Nebraska Total Care and UnitedHealthcare.
These three Heritage Health plans cover home health and private duty nursing for their members. All HCBS waiver services and state plan personal assistance services are excluded from the plans, so Medicaid pays those directly. Provider services numbers: Molina (844) 782-2678, Nebraska Total Care (844) 385-2192, UnitedHealthcare (866) 331-2243.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Which EVV system do Nebraska providers use?
Netsmart Mobile Caregiver+, or an approved alternate.
PAS, AD Waiver and TBI Waiver visits go through Netsmart Mobile Caregiver+; DD waiver providers may use Therap. You can use an alternate vendor that meets the state's requirements and the same claim rules; the home health FAQ says the provider pays its costs. With GPS, visits must start and end within 0.50 miles (rural ZIP codes) or 0.25 miles (urban) of the scheduled location, with the participant's signature. Phone check-in (IVR) is a last resort that needs state approval; the state's IVR policy calls for the participant's landline, and the personal assistance program does not allow IVR.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Why are my EVV claims being denied?
Usually location, signature, NPI or hours.
PAS and waiver EVV claims are not paid when the visit lacks GPS or an approved phone check-in, starts or ends outside the geofence, or has no participant signature. Since June 25, 2025, claims also fail without a caregiver NPI or when a caregiver or recipient has more than 16 hours of visits in a day for the service codes this applies to. Since July 9, 2025, tasks must match the approved task codes and the prior authorization.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
Do my caregivers need an NPI?
Yes, a Type 1 NPI each.
Since January 1, 2025, HCBS and PAS providers need NPIs to enroll or keep a Service Provider Agreement. Each direct care worker needs a Type 1 (individual) NPI, and the agency needs a Type 2 (organization) NPI. Keep the workers' NPIs on file, because they are subject to audit, and enter them in your EVV system.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
What does Medicaid pay for personal assistance services?
$3.75 per 15 minutes.
That is the rate for services on or after July 1, 2026, with no increase for State Fiscal Year 2027. Personal assistance is limited to 40 hours per seven-day period unless DHHS gives prior authorization. Bill no more often than weekly and at least monthly, within six months of the date of service.
Written and checked September 23, 2026
What changed in the Aged and Disabled Waiver renewal?
A cost limit, revised services and a new payment system.
The renewal (proposed effective July 1, 2026) adds an individual cost limit at 175% of the institutional cost limit. It revises Personal Care, Respite, Chore and Companion and adds provider types for Chore and Personal Care; its service rules limit Personal Care, LRI Personal Care and Companion hours each week. Waiver payments move from NFOCUS to the state's web-based case management system.
Written and checked September 23, 2026