Home Care Frequently Asked Questions
Survey Process

Temporary licensed applicants shall be surveyed within 90 calendar days of notifying the department they are providing services to a client. Then the Department shall conduct a survey of home care providers on a frequency of at least once every three years. A change of ownership does not affect the survey cycle. 

You can learn more about the survey process and see example forms on the Home Care Forms and Self-Audit Tools page. Additionally, you can refer to Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.474, “Survey process”. Surveys are conducted without advance notice to home care providers. Surveyors may contact the home care provider via email and/or phone on the day of a survey to arrange for someone to be available at the agency office. The contact does not constitute advance notice. (Ensure your contact information is up to date with the Department).

No, the law dictates that surveys shall be conducted without advance notice to home care providers. Once the Department begins a survey, it must continue. In most cases, the surveyor will attempt to reach the licensee by phone and/or email shortly before the start of the survey. This will alert whoever needs to be present at the office that the surveyor will be arriving shortly (this does not constitute advance notice.