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Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Home Health
Home Health Agencies: Payroll Features Every Business Needs (2026)
Home health agencies need payroll configured for visit-based aide pay, travel time reimbursement and Medicaid billing vs payroll, pay codes that general-purpose software leaves to the customer to build. BEG runs home health agency payroll for $45 per employee per month inside the payroll software you already use, all-inclusive, live in 3 to 5 business days.
Pay codes a home health agency cannot run without
Home health agencies pay registered nurses and LPNs on different bases, and the payroll system has to hold every one of them as its own pay code with the right tax and overtime treatment: visit-based aide pay, travel time reimbursement, Medicaid billing vs payroll and live-in caregiver rules. A generic setup collapses these into hourly and salary, and the errors show up in the regular rate, in year-end forms and in the first wage claim.
Since January 1, 2015, home care agencies and other third-party employers cannot claim the companionship services exemption and must pay minimum wage and overtime after 40 hours even when the worker is jointly employed by the household. The exemption itself covers fellowship and protection only, with care limited to 20 percent of hours per consumer per workweek and no medically related tasks.
A live-in domestic worker is one who resides on the premises permanently or for extended periods, meaning 5 days a week or 120 hours or more. Since January 1, 2015, agencies may not claim the live-in overtime exemption and must pay overtime after 40 hours; workers on 24-hour shifts who do not reside on the premises are not live-in workers.
Tax handling specific to home health agencies
Medicaid waiver payments for care of an eligible individual who lives in the caregiver's own home are excludable from federal income tax under Notice 2014-7, so no income tax is withheld, but an agency that employs the caregiver must still withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Excluded amounts go on Form W-2 box 12 with code II rather than box 1.
What is configured before the first run
At implementation every pay structure above is built as a code with its own taxability, its own overtime treatment and its own W-2 mapping, and the exemption status of registered nurses and LPNs is documented against the rule that supports it. That is the difference between software with the features and a payroll that uses them correctly.
The rules behind this page, with sources
General information, not legal advice. Every rule below was read on the agency page linked next to it.
- Since January 1, 2015, home care agencies and other third-party employers cannot claim the companionship services exemption and must pay minimum wage and overtime after 40 hours even when the worker is jointly employed by the household. The exemption itself covers fellowship and protection only, with care limited to 20 percent of hours per consumer per workweek and no medically related tasks. [DOL Fact Sheet #79A]
- A live-in domestic worker is one who resides on the premises permanently or for extended periods, meaning 5 days a week or 120 hours or more. Since January 1, 2015, agencies may not claim the live-in overtime exemption and must pay overtime after 40 hours; workers on 24-hour shifts who do not reside on the premises are not live-in workers. [DOL Fact Sheet #79B]
- Medicaid waiver payments for care of an eligible individual who lives in the caregiver's own home are excludable from federal income tax under Notice 2014-7, so no income tax is withheld, but an agency that employs the caregiver must still withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Excluded amounts go on Form W-2 box 12 with code II rather than box 1. [IRS Notice 2014-7 Q&A (Q11, Q16, Q18)]
Read the full guide to every managed payroll feature, explained, and the rest of the home health agency payroll library.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you handle visit-based pay for home health aides?
Yes. Aides paid per visit are set up as hourly employees with a per-visit rate. Visit logs from your scheduling software are the input for pay calculation, and we ensure per-visit pay meets minimum wage for time including travel between clients.
How do you handle travel time between client visits?
Under DOL guidance, travel time between client sites is compensable and must be paid at minimum wage. We include it in the total hours calculation for overtime purposes.
Can you handle multi-state operations?
Yes. Home health agencies serving clients across state lines register in each state, handle state employer setup, and file required returns in all applicable states.
What does BEG charge for home health agency payroll?
Home health payroll runs at $45 per employee per month. Visit-based pay, travel time tracking, and Medicaid reconciliation reporting are all included. For an agency with 30 caregivers, that is $1,350 per month.
What does managed payroll cost for a home health agency?
$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive, inside the payroll software you already use, with no monthly minimum. Visit-based aide pay, travel time reimbursement and Medicaid billing vs payroll are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Home Health Agencies. BEG manages payroll at $45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
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