What a Buyer Checks First
- Payer mix: Medicare, Medicaid managed care, private insurance and private pay
- Referral sources, and how dependent the agency is on a few physicians or hospitals
- Clinician and aide headcount, turnover and open positions
- State license status, accreditation and the last survey results
- Billing accuracy, audits and any repayment demands from payers
Compliance Is the Price
More than most industries, a home health agency is worth what its records can defend. Buyers read survey reports, billing audits and complaint files before they read the profit and loss statement.
A clean history lets a buyer pay for earnings. A messy one leads to price cuts, holdbacks or a pass.
Licensing Controls the Timeline
A change of ownership at a licensed agency is not a handshake. Florida requires the seller to notify the licensing agency well ahead of the change and the buyer to apply for its own license.
Our page on AHCA change of ownership walks through what to expect.
Medicare enrollment and any managed care contracts have their own steps. Start the clock early.
Payers and Referrals
Buyers sort revenue by who pays. Medicare and Medicaid managed care bring volume but also audits and slow payments. Private insurance and private pay usually carry better margins.
They also check where patients come from. An agency that gets most referrals from one hospital discharge planner or two physicians is fragile, because those relationships can end overnight.
Clinicians Are the Asset
- Registered nurses and therapists who stay are worth more than agency staff
- Written pay rates and mileage rules prevent surprises after closing
- A clinical director who is not the owner makes the agency easier to sell
Who Buys
Regional operators, hospital groups and private equity backed platforms all look at South Florida.
Individual buyers must pass license screening, so they need to disclose their history fully. See also the reemployment tax succession report, which affects payroll.
To learn what an agency like yours might bring, ask for a private estimate.