Licensure Program

The Bureau of Health Facilities Administration licensure program requires potential health care service providers to submit a completed application and all required application attachments.  Upon receipt of a completed application the Licensure Program will:

• Make a determination regarding the appropriate licensure category;
• Offer pre-licensure survey consultation;
• Schedule and conduct an initial on-site program and life safety code survey; and
• Issue or decline to issue a health facility/program license.

Required attachments for initial licensure include:

• Appropriate local approvals (e.g., Occupancy, Health Officer, Fire Code Officer, Building Code);
• Authorization or release from Certificate of Need through Health Planning Review Services Board at DHHS; and
• For new construction, a full set of construction plans.

The licensure process includes consultation on regulatory requirements, on-site health review survey of the facility or program, and on-site life safety code review.  Licenses are issued for one year and facilities are required to re-apply for licensure annually and undergo an unscheduled, on-site review to ensure compliance with NH health facility regulations.

Community Residence Certification

The Community Residence program conducts on-site inspections to certify providers or vendors who provide residential and programmatic services to eligible beneficiaries.  Certifications are issued for one year and providers are required to re-apply for licensure annually and receive an on-site review for compliance with the state community residence regulations.

Medicare/Medicaid Certification

As authorized by the Social Security Act, Section 1864, the Bureau of Health Facilities Administration certifies licensed health care providers for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.  Providers must be pre-approved by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by completion of CMS-855 federal application form.  The certification program includes on-site health and life safety code inspections to ensure compliance with federal health care regulations specific to a provider type (e.g., hospital, nursing home, ambulatory surgical, home health, hospice), and makes certification recommendations to CMS.  Certified providers are surveyed based on an annual federal workload schedule (e.g., nursing homes annually; non-accredited hospitals every three years; ambulatory surgical facilities every six years).  The bureau controls the workload schedule and all surveys are conducted unannounced.