Nursing Facilities

Licensure                  

The Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section issues licenses to Nursing Facilities. Once a license has been issued, it shall be valid until its expiration date, unless otherwise revoked, suspended, or terminated.

  **Currently, there is a moratorium in place for Nursing Facilities in Louisiana**

• Licensing Application/Renewal Form
• Licensing Application Addendum for Emergency Preparedness
• Fees
• Payment Procedure
• Louisiana Register Vol. 44, No. 12 December 20, 2018- Chapter 41 Expedited Licensing Process for Healthcare Facilities and Providers Licensed by the Department of Health 
• Alternate Use Beds
• Change of Ownership (CHOW) 
• Criminal Background Check Information

Documents including the Licensing Application, Licensing Application Addendum, Disclosure of Ownership, OPH reports, must be sent to:

Health Standards Section
P.O. Box 3767
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3767

Change of Ownership Information

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Providers must complete this document when they have a change in their ownership structure. This document would be used for both a change of ownership (CHOW) as defined by state and/or federal regulations, or a change of ownership information (CHOI) that does not meet the state and/or federal regulations CHOW definition.

For Health Standards to make a CHOW/CHOI determination, all providers must submit the following documents:

1. Letter of Intent (including d/b/a (doing business as) and entity name of the previous and the new owner, the effective date of change of ownership, address and phone number).
2. A diagram showing the ownership structure “before” and “after” the change
3. Copy of the executed legal transaction documents (Bill of Sale, lease, etc.)
4. CHOW/CHOI License Application
5. Change of Ownership Application
6. 855A/B approval letter for the following Medicare Certified providers: Home Health, hospice, hospitals, RHCs, ASCs, ESRDs, portable x-ray, community mental health, CORF, Nursing Facilities, and OPT.

Note: If this action is a CHOI, the documents above are the only documents you need to submit. There is no fee for a CHOI. 

If this action is a CHOW, the following are also needed:

1. Does your facility have a CLIA Certificate? If yes, you may also be required to complete a CHOW for CLIA.
2. Licensing Fee

Note: The fee for a CHOW is usually the same as a license renewal unless the facility is making additional changes. For providers completing an acquisition/merger, please contact the program desk for assistance.

Required Documents

• Nursing Home Change of Ownership Guidance Letter
• Health Standards Payment Transmittal Form(HSS-01-Payment Form) - Send With Fees
• Provider CHOW Packet Checklist – please complete and return with packet
• Disclosure of Ownership (HSS-1513L) 
• Fiscal Yearend Date Form (HSS-ALL-21)
• LTC Facility App for Medicare/Medicaid Form (CMS 671) 
• Intentions Regarding  Medicare Certification / Agreement (HSS-NH-15)
• Health Insurance Benefits agreement (CMS 1561) –– 3 copies, sign each with original signature
• Health Insurance Benefits agreement and Supporting Regulations (CMS 1561A)
• Office for Civil Rights Forms Memo

This packet is designed to assist the nursing home provider in completing and submitting the required information, forms and fees for a nursing home Change of Ownership (CHOW). Please complete all required information before submitting the packet and fees. 

A Letter of Intent should be submitted prior to the effective date of the Change of Ownership. The letter shall plainly describe exactly what is occurring through the CHOW process(lease, purchase of assets, etc.). The letter should include; the facilities current DBA name and legal entity (corporation) name; the new owner DBA name and legal entity (corporation) name with its address and contact information; and the effective date of the transfer of ownership.

The Nursing Home license is not transferable; therefore, another licensing application and fee must be submitted. The fee of $600.00 plus $5.00 per room must be in the form of a company check, certified check, or money order payable to the Department of Health and Hospitals. If more than one CHOW occurs the fee is applicable to each.

Mail Payment & Payment Transmittal Form to:	Mail ALL other CHOW Documentation to:
DHH Licensing Payments P.O. Box 734350 Dallas, TX 75373-4350	Health Standards Section P.O. Box 3767 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3767

Mail or deliver CHOW documents packet to:

LDH Health Standards Section
NH CHOW
P.O. Box 3767
Baton Rouge, LA  70821-1811

OR

LDH Health Standards Section
NH CHOW
628 N. Fourth Street, 3rd Floor
Baton Rouge, LA  70802

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Documents that are not provided in this packet but may be needed to complete the CHOW:

1. Letter of Intent (Submitted prior to Effective date, can be seperate from CHOW Packet)
2. Signed/Dated legal documentation of Sale, Lease, or Merger, etc.
3. Resident Trust Fund Balance Information
4. A copy of the signed and dated Surety Bond agreement been included in name of the new provider.
5. A Copy of letter from Office of Management & Finance (225-342-4175) regarding outstanding fees.
6. A Copy of the COVER LETTER for the CMS 855A Medicare Enrollment App. sent to Fiscal Intermediary (FI). (or assurance that the FI has been contacted regarding the 855)
7. A copy of the facility's Hospital Transfer Agreement(s)
8. Assurance of Compliance with Civil Rights Form HHS-690

Please Note: Health Standards does not have the CMS 855A Medicare Enrollment Application. The Fiscal Intermediary should be contacted regarding the CMS 855A Medicare Enrollment Application. All questions regarding the CMS 855A Medicare Enrollment Application should be directed to the fiscal intermediary or CMS.

For Information Regarding MDS Assessments:

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Nursing Home Abuse Reporting

• Facility - Incident Reports   
  • SOM Chapter 5 Revised (10/2022) Powerpoint
  • Sample Form for Facility Reported Incidents (Exhibit 358)
  • Follow-Up Investigation Report (Exhibit 359)
  • Mandated Reporting Flowsheet
• SIMS: Statewide Incident Management System

Emergency Preparedness

Re-Entry Process for Reoccupying and Reopening Following Emergency Events

• LDH-HSS Memo-Reoccupy Requirements updated 08/02/2024
  • HSS EP Form
  • OSFM Memo-Healthcare Facilities Evacuated during a Hurricane or State Declared Emergency
  • OPH-Health Care Facility Reoccupation Tool

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) created the ESF-8 Portal as a gateway to a suite of applications which are used to gather Emergency Status information on facilities licensed by the Department.

THE "ESF-8 Portal" AND ITS APPLICATIONS ARE NOT TO BE USED TO REQUEST IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SUPPORT OR ASSISTANCE! REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY RESOURCES SHOULD BE ROUTED THROUGH YOUR PLANNED CHANNELS STARTING WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES! ESF-8 Portal and its Applications are not continuously monitored.

All Levels 1-4 of Adult Residential Care Providers are to enter, maintain and update the following ESF -8 Applications and provide information as required or as requested:

Security Management - To be kept current and updated as needed or as requested;

• The contact information entered in this application will be used to send communications related to emergency situations or ESF-8 functions and applications. The facility is required to keep the facility contacts current;

Mstat - To be kept current and updated as requested or as required;

• Statuses for Operation, Evacuation, Power, Fuel, and Utility - to be kept current;
• Census - The facilities census information shall be updated as requested;
• Generator(s) information - To be kept current and updated as needed or as requested;
• Transportation information - To be kept current and updated as needed or as requested;
• Evacuation Destination(s) information - To be kept current and updated as needed or as requested;
• Utility Providers information - To be kept current and updated as needed or as requested; and,
• Patient/Resident List information - To be entered as requested or submitted as requested.

The following information will be needed to complete your ESF-8 applications updates:

• Emergency Contacts (persons in security management) - Names, Types/Positions, Phone and Email information
• Utility Providers- Name and account # for Electricity, Water, Natural Gas providers
• Evacuation Host Sites - Names, Addresses, Contact information, Agreement dates
• Emergency Transportation Providers- Names, Addresses, Contact information, Agreement dates
• Census Information - the current facility census, total number of residents including those on leave or at hospital, triaged by "Red, Yellow, Green" transportation needs
• Facility Generator(s) -  Make/Model, Output in Kilowatts, Phase (single or three), Voltage, Burn Rate, Services supplied, Fuel type, Fuel Tank information

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