Agencies
Services
Hospice Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a hospice add a second office location under its current license?
Multiple Hospice Location – a location or site from which the hospice program provides non-residential nursing, social, pastoral/counseling, bereavement, or dietary services within a portion of the total geographic area served by the hospice program. The multiple hospice location is part of the hospice program. It is located sufficiently close to share administration, supervision, and services in a manner that renders it unnecessary for the multiple hospice location to require a hospice license Multiple hospice locations are not hospice residences and shall not provide inpatient care.
What is required for a relocation of the health care provider?
The health care provider shall complete the IDPH Facility Information Change Form prior to the relocation and submit it to IDPH. If the health care provider is Medicare certified, the provider shall also complete Medicare Provider enrollment form 855A and submit it to their Medicare administrative contractor.
What is required for a change of ownership or sale?
Each license is valid only for the specific licensee and hospice named in the application and shall not be transferred or assigned to any other person, hospice, or corporation. The sale, assignment, lease, or other transfer of a hospice, whether voluntary or involuntary, requires the new owner/licensee to obtain a new license from IDPH before maintaining, operating, or conducting a hospice. In the case of hospices operating under a franchise arrangement, each unique business entity shall obtain and maintain a distinct license and shall not share licensure based on franchised name status.
A licensee shall notify IDPH in writing, at least 30 days in advance, of any intention to change ownership or sell its hospice. A change of ownership happens when one of the following transactions occurs: In an unincorporated sole proprietorship, when the property is transferred to another party; A material change in a partnership that is caused by the removal, addition, or substitution of a partner; In a corporation, when the provider corporation merges into another corporation, or the consolidation of two or more corporations, one of which is the licensee, resulting in the creation of a new corporation; The transfer of any corporation stock that results in a change of the person or persons who control the agency; or the transfer of any stock in excess of 75% of the outstanding stock. Pursuant to subsection (j)(5)(C), the transfer of corporate stock or the merger of another corporation into the licensee corporation does not constitute a change of ownership if the licensee corporation remains in existence. In these transactions, the corporation's name, its officers, its independent subsidiaries, and any other relevant information that IDPH may require shall be made available to IDPH upon request.
Whenever ownership of a hospice is proposed to be transferred from the person or organization named on the license to another person or organization, or the hospice will be undergoing any other change of ownership described above, the new owner shall apply for a new license. The new owner shall submit a hospice license application to IDPH at least 30 days before the sale or change of ownership. IDPH will issue a new license to a new owner who meets the requirements for licensure. The transactions described in this section shall not be complete until IDPH issues a new license to the new person, legal entity, or partnership. Upon the completion of the sale or change of ownership, the former licensee shall return its license to IDPH by certified mail.
If the health care provider is Medicare certified, the provider shall also complete Medicare Provider enrollment form 855A and submit it to their Medicare Administrative Contractor.
How does a facility request a change (addition or deletion) in a geographic service area?
Geographic Service Areas – the counties, cities, census track, etc. the hospice identifies in the license application.
To add or delete counties, the health care provider shall complete the IDPH form Hospice Add or Remove Geographic Service Areas and submit it to IDPH. IDPH will review the information provided and either approve or deny the request. If approval is granted by IDPH and the health care provider is Medicare certified, then the provider shall also complete the Medicare Provider enrollment form 855A and submit it to their Medicare administrative contractor.
What is required for a change in administration?
When an agency has a change in administrator or medical director, it must submit a letter notifying IDPH of the new employee’s name, email address, direct phone number, and effective date of the change to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Office of Health Care Facilities and Programs
Attn: Hospice License Program Staff
525 W. Jefferson St., Fourth Floor
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
