Montana Home Health Survey Prep Checklist
Your survey could come any day. This is exactly what Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) surveyors pull from your files — and how to walk in already audit-ready. Free, no signup required.
75 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.
Montana Background & Exclusion Screening
Required checks for every staff member (Mont. Code Ann. § 50-5-410):
- Montana Department of Justice Criminal CheckRequired
- FBI National Criminal CheckRequired
- Montana Nurse Aide RegistryRequired
- Montana Sex Offender 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: DOJ Fingerprint.
Abuse registry: Check the Montana Nurse Aide Registry for all staff.
Training, Competency & Supervision Records
- 75 hours of documented initial training per staff member (ARM 37.106.1820).
- 12 hours of annual continuing education, with dated completion records.
- Supervisory visit notes documented every 60 days (ARM 37.106.1820).
- Signed competency evaluations for each aide/attendant role.
Montana Survey Prep FAQ
What do surveyors check in Montana 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 Montana?
Medicare/Medicaid-participating agencies should screen all staff against the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov exclusion lists monthly, per OIG Special Advisory Bulletin guidance. Montana also requires Montana Department of Justice Criminal Check, FBI National Criminal Check, Montana Nurse Aide Registry, Montana Sex Offender Registry, OIG Exclusion List.
How many training hours does Montana require?
Montana requires 75 initial training hours and 12 annual continuing-education hours (ARM 37.106.1820). Supervisory visits are required every 60 days.
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