(a) No private or public organization, including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency within the state, shall provide, or arrange for the provision of, skilled nursing services in the home in this state without first obtaining a home health agency license.
(b) No private or public organization, including, but not limited to, any partnership, corporation, or political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency within the state, shall do any of the following unless it is licensed under this chapter:
(1) Represent itself to be a home health agency by its name or advertisement, soliciting, or any other presentments to the public, or in the context of services within the scope of this chapter imply that it is licensed to provide those services or to make any reference to employee bonding in relation to those services.
(2) Use the words “home health agency,” “home health,” “home-health,” “homehealth,” or “in-home health,” or any combination of those terms, within its name.
(3) Use the words “skilled” or “nursing,” or any combination of those terms within its name, to imply that it is licensed as a home health agency to provide those services.
(c) In implementing the system of licensing for home health agencies, the department shall distinguish between the functions of a home health agency and the functions of an employment agency or a licensed nurses’ registry pursuant to Title 2.91 (commencing with Section 1812.500) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code. An employment agency or a licensed nurses’ registry performing its functions as specified in Title 2.91 (commencing with Section 1812.500) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code is not required to secure a home health agency license under subdivision (a), unless it is performing the functions of a home health agency, as defined in this chapter. However, subdivision (b) shall apply to an employment agency or a licensed nurses’ registry that is not licensed under this chapter.
(d) A hospice is not required to secure a home health agency license under subdivision (a). However, subdivision (b) shall apply to a hospice that is not licensed under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 335, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)