Home health aides and other home care providers are in high demand. Job growth for this occupation is expected to increase by 33% nationwide from 2020-2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now may be a great time to consider this challenging yet rewarding career!
Let’s take a closer look at how to become a Home Health Aide in the Buckeye State, from licensing to home care business insurance in Ohio.
Do Home Health Aides need a license in Ohio?
Home Health Aides (HHA), both those working for an agency and non-agency providers, do not currently need a license to work in Ohio. This will change on July 1, 2022, when a new law goes into effect that will require all home health care providers to be licensed by the Ohio Department of Health.
While home health aides do not need a license at the moment, there are HHA requirements in Ohio that you first need to meet. These include completing home healthcare training, registering with the state, and passing a background check.
How to become a home health aide
To work as a Medicare or Medicaid certified home health aide in Ohio, you will need to meet the basic training requirements set by the federal government. This consists of 75 hours of home healthcare training, including 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training. You will also need to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year.
You will also need to pass a competency exam. The exam will measure your medical skills, decision making, and critical thinking. During part of the test, you will be observed while you assist a real patient or a mock patient. This may be either a person trained to act like a patient for the exam or a computer-based mannequin.
Registering as a Home Health Aide in Ohio
If you are an independent, non-agency home health aide, you can register with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. This is optional, but it allows you to work with patients who are part of Medicare or Medicaid programs that pay for their home healthcare in Ohio.
When you enroll, you will need to submit a state background check from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. You will also need to submit a federal FBI background check if you have lived in Ohio for less than five years.
Home health care insurance in Ohio
Becoming a home health aide in Ohio takes dedication and training. The last thing you probably want is for an accident to put all your hard work to waste. Home health care insurance in Ohio can help protect you and your business from some common liability claims that you may face as an HHA.
Home health aides work closely with patients in their own homes. You assist them with daily tasks, like bathing and eating, and monitor their vital signs and other signs of health. Your patients are often elderly, living with a disability, or chronically ill, and special care must be taken to ensure their safety.
But even if you always work carefully, accidents can still happen. Let’s say you’re helping a patient get out of the shower. They slip and fall, requiring a lengthy hospital stay. Their family alleges that the fall was your fault and demands that you pay for the medical bills resulting from the fall.**
Cases like these can be incredibly expensive for HHAs and other healthcare professionals. Thankfully, General Liability insurance could protect you by covering the patient’s medical bills. These types of policies also cover third-party property damage. So, if you accidentally break a patient’s belongings, your policy will pay to fix or replace the item.
This type of home health aide liability insurance in Ohio can play an important part in helping you manage risks that come with working in another person’s home. It can provide peace of mind, knowing that if a patient is injured or you accidentally damage their property, you won’t have to pay to fix the situation from your own pocket.
HHA Requirements in Ohio
Being a Home Health Aide is a challenging but rewarding career. Beyond your home healthcare training, you’ll also need to love of working with patients and helping people live safely and with dignity in their own homes.
And while you’re caring for others, General Liability can help care for you and your small business. BizInsure helps busy HHAs find home health care insurance in Ohio. Start comparing policies today and get the coverage you need in just minutes!
**The provision of the claims examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be seen as an indication as to how any potential claim will be assessed or accepted. Cover for a claim will depend on the specific circumstances around the loss and would be subject to the terms and conditions of the policy concerned. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained in this webpage is general only. Coverage for claims on the policy will be determined by the insurer, not BizInsure, and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.
