Illinois Home Health Survey Prep Checklist
Your survey could come any day. This is exactly what Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) surveyors pull from your files — and how to walk in already audit-ready. Free, no signup required.
120 hrs
Initial Training
12 hrs
Annual Training
Every 60 days
Supervision
Required
Fingerprints
What Surveyors Pull From Every Employee File
Have these ready, current, and signed for every staff member before your survey:
- Signed job description matching the role and assigned duties
- Completed application and verified employment history / references
- I-9 employment eligibility verification with supporting documents
- W-4 and signed payroll / direct-deposit authorization
- Government-issued photo ID and Social Security / ITIN record
- Current professional license or certification copy (RN, LPN, CNA, HHA, etc.)
- Signed HIPAA, employee handbook, and policy acknowledgments
- Documented orientation and annual in-service / competency evaluation
See the full breakdown in our guide: What Surveyors Check in Personnel Files.
Illinois Background & Exclusion Screening
Required checks for every staff member (225 ILCS 46/):
- Illinois State Police Criminal CheckRequired
- FBI National Criminal CheckRequired
- Healthcare Worker Background Check (HFS)Required
- Illinois Sex Offender RegistryRequired
- Illinois Nurse Aide RegistryRequired
- OIG Exclusion ListRequired
Don't forget monthly OIG/SAM screening. Medicare/Medicaid agencies must re-check all staff against the federal exclusion lists every month — surveyors ask for the dated screening logs.
Fingerprinting required: ISP Fingerprint.
Abuse registry: Check the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry for all staff.
Training, Competency & Supervision Records
- 120 hours of documented initial training per staff member (77 Ill. Adm. Code 245.40).
- 12 hours of annual continuing education, with dated completion records.
- Supervisory visit notes documented every 60 days (77 Ill. Adm. Code 245.50).
- Signed competency evaluations for each aide/attendant role.
Illinois Survey Prep FAQ
What do surveyors check in Illinois home health personnel files?
Surveyors review each employee file for identifying information, a signed job description, verified employment history, license and certification copies, background-check and exclusion-screening results, training and competency documentation, and signed policy acknowledgments. Missing or expired items are among the most common citations.
How often do I need to re-screen staff against the OIG exclusion list in Illinois?
Medicare/Medicaid-participating agencies should screen all staff against the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov exclusion lists monthly, per OIG Special Advisory Bulletin guidance. Illinois also requires Illinois State Police Criminal Check, FBI National Criminal Check, Healthcare Worker Background Check (HFS), Illinois Sex Offender Registry, Illinois Nurse Aide Registry, OIG Exclusion List.
How many training hours does Illinois require?
Illinois requires 120 initial training hours and 12 annual continuing-education hours (77 Ill. Adm. Code 245.40). Supervisory visits are required every 60 days.
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