Licensure
State law requires hospitals, long term care facilities, clinics, hospice programs and out of hospital dialysis units to be deemed suitable and responsible by the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Quality and comply with licensure regulations in order to operate. Providers must be deemed suitable and licensed before they begin providing services.
List of Health Care Facilities licensed by the Division 
Bed counts represent most recent licensing data available at the time of the report. Please note that nursing home bed totals may include beds temporarily out of service, and not the total number of active beds in a facility.
An application for a determination of suitability and license to operate must also be filed when there is a transfer or change of ownership. Applicants must submit a completed "Notice of Intent to Acquire" (see below) at least 90 days in advance of the proposed date of transfer of ownership for nursing homes and hospitals, and at least 30 days in advance for all other provider types; and all programmatic documentation with 48 hours of the actual transfer. "Change of ownership" includes: transfer of a majority interest of the ownership; change in trustee or a majority of the trustees of a trust; transfer of a majority of any class of the stock of a for-profit corporation; changes in the corporate membership or trustees of a non-profit corporation such as the Department determines to constitute a shift in control of the program; or the initiation of foreclosure proceedings by a mortgagee in possession.
Licensure Laws
- Hospitals: MGL Chapter 111, section 51, MGL Chapter 111, section 51G, and
105 CMR 130.000
; - Long term care facilities (nursing homes and rest homes): MGL Chapter 111, section 71; and
105 CMR 150.000
,
105 CMR 151.000
, and
105 CMR 153.000
;
- Clinics: MGL Chapter 111, section 51, and
105 CMR 140.000
;
- Hospice: MGL Chapter 111, section 57D and
105 CMR 141.000
;
- Out of hospital dialysis units: MGL Chapter 111, section 51A and
105 CMR 145.000
.
Initial Licensure and Change of Ownership Applications
1. Applicants for licensure must satisfy applicable Determination of Need and Plan Review requirements before submitting their application for a determination of suitability.
2. Applicants for licensure must complete the "Initial Licensure Application: Notice of Intent to Acquire/ Application for Determination of Suitability" form and submit all required attachments in order for their application to be deemed substantially complete. The Department is unable to process incomplete applications for suitability:
All Applicants:
-
Initial Licensure Application/Notice of Intent to Acquire (PDF)
file size 1MB
-
Table 1 - DPS Certificate or Local Occupancy Permit (PDF)
-
Table 2 - Fee Schedule (PDF)
-
CORI Form (PDF)
file size 3MB
Selected applicants as may be required:
-
Suitability Application Disclosure Form (PDF)
file size 1MB
3. In addition, applicants must submit appropriate programmatic documentation specific to their provider type. Contact DHCQ licensure staff for forms: David Brown,Licensure & Certification Coordinator at 617.753.8115, David.Brown@DPH.State.MA.US; or Pearlina Mills, Program Coordinator, at 617-753-8124, Pearlina.Mills@State.MA.US.
Changes to Existing Licenses
Current licensees should contact licensure staff for changes to an existing license: David Brown,Licensure & Certification Coordinator at 617.753.8115 or David.Brown@DPH.State.MA.US; or Pearlina Mills, Program Coordinator, at 617-753-8124 or Pearlina.Mills@State.MA.US.
Complaints Regarding Licensed Facilities
If you wish to file a complaint against a licensed or certified provider, please contact the Complaint Unit at 617-753-8150 or go to: How To File a Complaint. For information on regulations prohibiting abuse, neglect and misappropriation see:
105 CMR 155.000
.
Medicare and Medicaid Certification
Medicare is a federal health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Medicare certification is the CMS approval for a provider to be reimbursed for certain services to Medicare-insured individuals.
The Division of Health Care Quality is the CMS State Survey Agency for the certification of the following Medicare provider programs.
- Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC)
- Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF)
- End-Stage Renal Dialysis (ESRD)
- Home Health Agency (HHA)
- Hospice
- Hospital
- Laboratory -Clinical Laboratory (CLIA)
- Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF) a.k.a "Nursing home"
- Outpatient Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Speech Pathology Service (OPT/SP)
- Portable X-Ray (PortX)
- Rural Health Center (RHC)
(ASC) Ambulatory Surgical Center
Must be licensed by Department of Public Health to be eligible for Medicare certification.
(CORF) Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility
May require clinic licensure by Department of Public Health before certification.
End-Stage Renal Dialysis (ESRD)
Must be licensed by Department of Public Health to be eligible for Medicare certification.
Home Health Agency (HHA)
The Department of Public Health does not license home health services. Medicare/Medicaid certification is not a requirement for conducting a home health service. Medicare/Medicaid participation is an option for your agency.
Hospice
Must be licensed by Department of Public Health to be eligible for Medicare certification.
Hospital
Must be licensed by Department of Public Health to be eligible for Medicare certification.
A Transitional Care Unit is certified as a Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF).
Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF) a.k.a "Nursing home"
Must be licensed by Department of Public Health before certification.
(OPT/SP) Outpatient Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Speech Pathology Service
May require clinic licensure by Department of Public Health before certification.
Portable X-Ray (PortX)
Must be certified by the Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program to be eligible for Medicare certification.
Rural Health Clinic (RHC)
May require clinic licensure by Department of Public Health before certification.
For additional information on the certification process, please contact David Brown, Licensure and Certification Coordinator, either by phone at 617-753-8115, or by email: David.Brown@DPH.State.MA.US.
This information is provided by the Division of Health Care Quality within the Department of Public Health.