Check a Texas license, clarify payment questions and prepare a consistent set of questions before you compare Houston agency branches.
Reviewed
Start with Medicare, written quotes, skilled nursing and personal care questions.
Use a blank three-agency worksheet to check your address, schedule, payment, minimum hours and backup coverage. Print it for your calls or save the page as a PDF.
Open the printable agency-call worksheetTexas HHSC licenses Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs) by service category. Check the branch’s current categories separately from its staffing, service area and payer participation.
L&CHHS — Licensed and Certified Home Health Services
The certified home health category. Confirm current Medicare certification and whether the specific branch can bill your plan; the category alone does not establish Medicaid participation.
LHHS — Licensed Home Health Services
A home health category that is separate from Medicare certification. Ask which nursing or therapy services the branch currently provides and how those services would be paid for.
PAS — Personal Assistance Services
A category for personal assistance and daily-living support. Confirm the tasks, supervision, staffing and payment arrangements with the branch.
Home health care can be covered by several payer sources. Understanding your options is the first step to getting affordable care.
Medicare home health
Eligibility generally requires homebound status, an ordered plan and part-time or intermittent skilled care from a Medicare-certified agency. Medicare does not cover round-the-clock home care or personal care alone.
Medicare Advantage
Ask your plan about network participation, authorization and your home health benefit before care begins. Confirm the branch as well as the agency name.
Texas Medicaid / STAR+PLUS
Ask your managed-care plan or service coordinator which home and community-based benefits apply and which providers can deliver the authorized services. A state license does not confirm a Medicaid contract.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Ask your insurer about benefit triggers, waiting periods, reimbursement limits and required documents for your policy.
Private Pay
Request a written quote for the actual tasks and schedule. Compare billing units, minimum hours, additional charges and cancellation terms rather than a general hourly estimate.
Finding the right home health agency requires more than comparing prices. Here are the key factors to evaluate.
Verify the Branch and License
Match the business name, location and service categories to the current official record. A directory badge does not replace a fresh license check.
Confirm the Exact Services and Address
Ask whether the branch can provide the requested tasks at your address. Listed areas and license categories do not establish current availability.
Read Reviews in Context
Consider reviews alongside the license record, references and your agency interview. Ask about communication and caregiver continuity.
Ask About Staffing and Backup
Ask who supervises care, how staff are screened and trained, and what happens when an assigned caregiver is unavailable.
Confirm the Written Terms
Check your payer separately and request the quote, minimum hours and cancellation terms in writing before agreeing to recurring care.
Browse Houston agencies by the specific type of care you need.
Browse agencies with your area listed, then confirm the exact address and current staffing with each branch.
For a fuller payment discussion, read the Texas home health payment guide. Confirm eligibility and current terms with the agency and payer.