Sec. 142.002. LICENSE REQUIRED

(a) Except as provided by Section 142.003, a person, including a health care facility licensed under this code, may not engage in the business of providing home health, hospice, or personal assistance services, or represent to the public that the person is a provider of home health, hospice, or personal assistance services for pay without a home and community support services agency license authorizing the person to perform those services issued by the department for each place of business from which home health, hospice, or personal assistance services are directed. A certified agency must have a license to provide certified home health services.

(b) A person who is not licensed to provide home health services under this chapter may not indicate or imply that the person is licensed to provide home health services by the use of the words "home health services" or in any other manner.

(c) A person who is not licensed to provide hospice services under this chapter may not use the word "hospice" in a title or description of a facility, organization, program, service provider, or services or use any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the person holds a license to provide hospice services under this chapter.

(d) A license to provide hospice services issued under this chapter authorizes a hospice to own or operate a residential unit or inpatient unit at the licensed site in compliance with the standards and rules adopted under this chapter.

(e) A license issued under this chapter may not be transferred to another person, but may be transferred from one location to another location. A change of ownership or location shall be reported to the department.

(f) A person who is not licensed to provide personal assistance services under this chapter may not indicate or imply that the person is licensed to provide personal assistance services by the use of the words "personal assistance services" or in any other manner.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 800, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.194, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.