Hospice Care Programs

Hospice care programs for the terminally ill stress relief of pain and uncomfortable symptoms as opposed to curative care. Hospices also address the patient’s physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs, as well as the psychosocial needs of the patient’s family/caregiver. Hospices may provide short-term inpatient care and respite care with an emphasis on keeping the patient at home with family as long as possible. Hospices provide core services including: nursing care by or under supervision of a registered nurse, medical social services, physician’s services and counseling, and may provide physical or occupational therapy and speech pathology services; home health aide services; homemaker services; medical supplies; and continuous home care for eight or more hours in a day in the event of crisis.

Hospices are licensed by the Bureau of Regulatory Operations at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) under Chapter 3712. of the Ohio Revised Code and Chapter 3701-19 of the Ohio Administrative Code.  Hospice licenses are effective for three years. Federal standards for Medicare certified hospice programs are found at 42 CFR Part 418.  Hospices are not currently subject to an annual survey visit, but are surveyed consistent with a percentage of total state universe as set by the Medicare budget each federal fiscal year.  Hospices accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may be deemed as meeting the Medicare Conditions of Participation and are not subject to a routine survey by the ODH.  Since 2005, out-of-state hospice care programs providing services to patients in Ohio must have an administrative office in Ohio.

Hospice Care Program Licensing

Please select the links be below to obtain applications and information for hospice care programs:

Hospice Care Program Application for Initial License Packet

Hospice Care Program Application for Renewal License Packet

Hospice Care Program Application for Change of Ownership Packet

Hospice Care Program Self Reported Incident Form

Hospice Care Program Self Reported Incident Form Instructions

Additional Resources for Hospice Care Programs

Interpretive Guidelines for Chapter 3701-19 of the Ohio Administrative Code for Hospice Care Programs

EXAMPLE - Draft Suspected Drug Diversion Reporting Form

Health Care & Provider Services: To obtain real-time information, generate, print and download reports regarding health care providers that are licensed and/or Medicare/Medicaid certified by the Ohio Department of Health.

Quality of Care Quarterly Reports

Interim Guidance to Hospice Care Programs on the admission of non-hospice palliative care patients to hospice inpatient facilities.

As of March 20, 2019, Hospice Care Programs with inpatient hospice facilities will be authorized to admit non-hospice palliative care patients to the hospice inpatient unit for medically necessary care on a short-term basis. Please click here to access the full guidance from the Ohio Department of Health .

Mailing Address:

Ohio Department of Health
Bureau of Regulatory Operations, Hospice
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Telephone: (614) 995-7466
Fax: (614) 564-2475

E-mail: community@odh.ohio.gov