How to Report a Home Care Provider to AHCA
Anyone can report a Florida nurse registry, home health agency, or companion service that isn't following the law, and in some cases you're required to. This page shows you where to report, how to file, and what AHCA has been citing lately.
Why we built this. Responsible providers pay real costs to protect clients: background screening, required training, licensing, and turning away care they aren't allowed to give. Not all do, and AHCA's online complaint process is hard to navigate. In our experience, even seasoned registry owners often aren't sure how to report. This page walks you through it, so you can report responsibly, with facts and to the right agency. It builds on a presentation on reporting unlicensed activity that Scott developed for the Private Care Association.
Five things to know before you report
- Reporting is a legal duty. Anyone aware of an unlicensed provider must report it to AHCA (s. 408.812(7), F.S.). Anyone who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline (s. 415.1034, F.S.).
- Unlicensed care is abuse and neglect under Florida law. Performing services that require a license without one is unlicensed activity, which "constitutes abuse and neglect" (s. 408.812(2), F.S.). Offering or advertising those services without a license is also prohibited (s. 408.812(1), F.S.). That includes a companion service providing or advertising hands-on personal care.
- Every caregiver needs Alzheimer's (ADRD) training. Nurse registries, home health agencies, and companion services are all covered, whether or not clients have dementia (s. 430.5025, F.S.).
- AHCA relies on reports. Companion services are inspected almost only when someone complains: 279 of 281 inspections on record were complaint investigations. Licensed providers get routine surveys, but complaints are how AHCA hears about problems in between.
- Report responsibly. Stick to facts you know firsthand, use the right form, and let AHCA investigate. Don't confront the provider or post accusations publicly.
How to file a report
First, look them up
Check whether the nurse registry, home health agency, or companion service is licensed, and read its inspection reports, on AHCA's public sites.
- Florida Health Finder: license status and type, address, and posted inspection reports.
- AHCA inspection records: citations by survey date, with correction dates.
- No listing usually means no license, but the business may be licensed under a different name. Try variations before you assume.
- Prefer to talk to someone? Call AHCA toll-free at 1-888-419-3456.
Then pick the card that fits.
The provider is licensed, but isn't following the rules
- Note the provider's name and license or registration number from Florida Health Finder.
- Write down what happened: dates, who was involved, and what care was or wasn't provided.
- Gather what you have: screenshots, messages, schedules, or documents.
- File AHCA's Health Care Facility Complaint Form. Leave an email you check so AHCA can follow up.
- Save the confirmation email and, if one is assigned, the complaint number.
You don't believe the provider has the license it needs
- Confirm on Florida Health Finder: no listing, or a license that doesn't cover the services, such as a companion registration offering hands-on personal care.
- Take dated screenshots of ads, websites, and social media posts that show the services offered.
- Note any names, phone numbers, addresses, and websites you have.
- File AHCA's Complaint Form for Unlicensed Health Care Facilities.
- If a client may be harmed or neglected, also call the Florida Abuse Hotline.
Prefer to call? AHCA's toll-free complaint line takes reports about licensed and unlicensed providers.
Call AHCA: 1-888-419-3456Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult? Report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). If someone is in danger right now, call 911.
Report abuse online →Two tips that help investigators
- Attach evidence. Dated screenshots of ads, social media posts, and web pages make a complaint much easier to act on.
- Follow up. AHCA can be slow to investigate. If you haven't heard anything, call 1-888-419-3456 with your complaint number.
Other places to report
The cards above cover AHCA. Use these for an individual nurse or aide, Medicaid billing, or an emergency.
| Your concern | Where to report |
|---|---|
| A provider operating without a license or registration, or offering services its license doesn't allow | AHCA: Complaint Form for Unlicensed Health Care Facilities, or 1-888-419-3456 |
| A licensed or registered provider (nurse registry, home health agency, companion service) not following the rules | AHCA: Health Care Facility Complaint Form, or 1-888-419-3456 |
| An individual nurse, CNA, or home health aide: their conduct or their license | Florida Department of Health: Complaints & Enforcement. Complaints must be signed and can't be filed by phone. Unlicensed practice by an individual: 877-HALT-ULA. |
| Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult | Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873), or report online |
| Medicaid fraud or billing abuse | AHCA: Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Complaint Form |
| Someone in danger right now | Call 911 |
What counts as unlicensed activity
Unlicensed activity is providing, offering, or advertising health care services that require an AHCA license without holding one (s. 408.812, F.S.). Common examples in home care:
- A companion or homemaker service offering bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, or other hands-on personal care.
- An individual or business that starts matching caregivers with clients for a fee, or advertises that it does. Florida defines that as a nurse registry (s. 400.462, F.S.), which requires a license. A caregiver working on their own isn't the issue; referring others is. AHCA's companion services regulation set has its own tag for this: I0006, Unlicensed Nurse Registry.
- Online platforms that match caregivers with Florida clients for a fee can fall under the same definition.
- Advertising home health services without a home health agency or nurse registry license.
The penalties are real. A provider that keeps operating after AHCA notifies it can be fined $1,000 for each day (s. 408.812, F.S.). Operating an unlicensed home health agency after notification is also a second-degree misdemeanor, and a first-degree misdemeanor for repeat violations, with each day a separate offense (s. 400.464, F.S.).
For nurse registries and agencies: you're often the first to know
Registries and agencies hear things before anyone else: a family that says their companion service bathes Mom, a caregiver who mentions working for an operator with no license, a client whose last provider skipped background checks. The duty to report applies to you like anyone else, and reporting protects clients and the providers who follow the rules. Keep it factual, use the right form, and keep a copy of what you file.
What happens after you file
AHCA's Complaint Administration Unit reviews and prioritizes each complaint. If a client may be in immediate danger, AHCA aims to inspect within two business days. If AHCA has authority, it schedules an inspection; if not, it tells you in writing and refers you elsewhere. Leave your name and contact information and AHCA will send you the outcome in writing (AHCA complaint FAQ).
You can file anonymously, but you won't hear back, and AHCA notes that your identity isn't protected unless you stay anonymous. Complaints about events more than 12 months old usually don't lead to an onsite inspection, so report promptly.
Already filed? Tell us how it went. What we hear shapes our training for providers and our advocacy work with PCA Florida.
What AHCA has been citing
The most common citations against Florida nurse registries and companion services over the last 12 months, and the latest citations posted, from AHCA's public inspection records. We update this monthly.
Nurse registries
Last 12 months: 359 inspections, 175 citations at 78 providers. 7% of those inspections were complaint investigations.
| # | Most common citations | Times cited |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Administrator G0160 | 31 |
| 2 | Background screening clearinghouse ZZ814 | 16 |
| 3 | Hours of operation G0175 | 15 |
| 4 | Alzheimer disease/dementia; training ZZ875 | 14 |
| 5 | Communicable disease G0151 | 11 |
Latest citations
- Aug 14, 2026 Communicable disease · Marion County · AHCA citation record
- Aug 10, 2026 CNA & home health aide - CPR · Miami-Dade County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 31, 2026 Background screening clearinghouse · Polk County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 31, 2026 Background screening; prohibited offenses · Polk County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 29, 2026 Information to contractors · County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 29, 2026 Administrator · County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 29, 2026 Special needs registration · County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 29, 2026 Emergency management planning · County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 29, 2026 Alzheimer disease/dementia; training · County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 23, 2026 Reporting requirements; electronic submission · Miami-Dade County · AHCA citation record
Homemaker and companion services
Last 12 months: 19 inspections, 16 citations at 8 providers. 100% of those inspections were complaint investigations.
| # | Most common citations | Times cited |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unlicensed HH services provision I0005 | 3 |
| 2 | Services provided I0003 | 2 |
| 3 | Background screening clearinghouse ZZ814 | 2 |
| 4 | Change of address ZZ806 | 2 |
| 5 | Attempted inspection ZZ871 | 2 |
Latest citations
- Jul 28, 2026 Unlicensed HH services provision · Martin County · AHCA citation record
- Jul 28, 2026 Administrative fines; violations · Martin County · AHCA citation record
- Jun 16, 2026 Services provided · Broward County · AHCA citation record
- Jun 16, 2026 Change of address · Broward County · AHCA citation record
- May 27, 2026 Registration number in ads · Martin County · AHCA citation record
- May 27, 2026 Attempted inspection · Martin County · AHCA citation record
- May 7, 2026 Services provided · Jackson County · AHCA citation record
- May 7, 2026 Unlicensed HH services provision · Jackson County · AHCA citation record
- May 7, 2026 Background screening clearinghouse · Jackson County · AHCA citation record
- May 7, 2026 Background screening; prohibited offenses · Jackson County · AHCA citation record
Source: AHCA Statement of Deficiencies public records, for providers with posted inspection documents. Updated monthly; last updated October 7, 2026. Inspection reports can take weeks to post. Providers can contest findings, and many cited deficiencies have since been corrected. See AHCA's record for details.
Stay compliant: we can help.
The citations above are what surveyors look for in your files. We help Florida nurse registries get and stay survey-ready: paperwork reviews, mock surveys, and day-to-day compliance support, from an operator who has run a registry since 2007.
Running a companion service? See our free guide to a compliant companion care business, and what it takes to offer hands-on care legally as a nurse registry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a home care agency or nurse registry in Florida?
File AHCA's online Health Care Facility Complaint Form or call AHCA at 1-888-419-3456. If the provider has no license, or is offering services its license doesn't allow, use AHCA's Complaint Form for Unlicensed Health Care Facilities instead.
How do I report an unlicensed home care business in Florida?
Check the business on Florida Health Finder, then file AHCA's Complaint Form for Unlicensed Health Care Facilities or call 1-888-419-3456. Florida law requires anyone aware of an unlicensed provider to report it to AHCA (s. 408.812(7), F.S.).
Who do I report a nurse or CNA to in Florida?
Complaints about an individual nurse, CNA, or home health aide go to the Florida Department of Health, which licenses them. DOH complaints must be signed and can't be filed by phone.
Am I required to report?
Anyone aware of an unlicensed provider must report it to AHCA (s. 408.812(7), F.S.), and anyone who knows or suspects that a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline (s. 415.1034, F.S.).
Can I report to AHCA anonymously?
Yes. AHCA accepts anonymous complaints, but you won't hear back about the outcome, and AHCA notes your identity isn't protected unless you stay anonymous.
Pass it on
Many people, including registry owners we talk with, aren't sure how to report or that they're required to. Send this page to someone who should.
This page is general regulatory information based on the Florida statutes and agency guidance cited. It is not legal advice.