Many health facilities are licensed only, some are certified only; not all facilities are both licensed and federally certified. Certification is required under the Medicare and Medicaid laws in order for a health facility to receive reimbursement for services provided to Medicare and/or Medicaid patients.
Long-Term Care
This program ensures that long-term care licensed and/or certified facilities (i.e. nursing homes and ICF/IID, assisted living facilities) meet the established standards for health and safety.
Medical Care
This program ensures that all other non-long-term care facilities (i.e. hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies, dialysis centers, ambulatory surgical centers, freestanding birth centers, diagnostic and treatment clinics, limited diagnostic and treatment clinics, community mental health centers, rural health centers, outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology, and portable x-ray) meet the established standards for health and safety in both licensed and certified establishments.
