A Special Needs CHHA is a Certified Home Health Agency that has been approved by the Department of Health to serve an identified specific targeted population or identified special needs population.

  1. Populations eligible for services from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) or Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD): The special needs certified home health agency provides services to a population of patients in their homes who would otherwise require care in a facility or program licensed by either OMH or OPWDD.
  2. Pilot Program Home Health Agencies: Ten such agencies are permitted under regulations to provide services to a particular population group and that group's identified special needs. During the application process, these agencies demonstrated that they were better able than other home health agencies to meet the special needs of the defined population group in the areas of improved continuity of care, access to services, cost effectiveness and efficiency.