If you own or operate a hospice agency and need your NAICS code, here is your answer right away.
The primary NAICS code for an in-home hospice care agency is 621610, classified under Home Health Care Services in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. However, “hospice” is a highly regulated medical service. The right code for your business depends entirely on whether you provide care inside a patient’s private residence or operate a residential inpatient facility. This page covers the relevant codes so you can identify the one that fits.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| NAICS Code | 621610 |
| Industry Title | Home Health Care Services |
| Sector | 62 (Health Care and Social Assistance) |
| Industry Group | 6216 |
| Last Updated | 2022 NAICS Edition (Next NAICS Code Edition will come in 2027) |
What Does NAICS Code 621610 Cover?
According to the official 2022 NAICS data, code 621610 covers establishments primarily engaged in providing home health care services.
In simple terms, this code applies to hospice agencies that send licensed medical professionals directly to a patient’s private residence to provide palliative and end-of-life care. For in-home hospice businesses, this includes:
- Providing palliative and end-of-life care in the patient’s home
- Skilled nursing services provided in a home setting
- Medical social work and counseling for the patient and their family
- Personal care assistance with daily living activities in the home
- Coordinating medical equipment and medication delivery to the home
The important distinction here is in-home care. This code covers the medical and personal care provided in a residential setting, but it strictly excludes residential facilities or inpatient care centers.
Does My Hospice Business Qualify for Code 621610?
Your business qualifies for NAICS code 621610 if:
- You operate an agency that dispatches staff to private residences to provide end-of-life care
- Your main source of revenue comes from providing licensed medical and personal care in a home setting
- Your staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, and certified home health aides
Your business may not qualify if:
- You operate a physical hospice facility, inpatient residential care center, or 24/7 nursing facility where the patient lives on-site, which falls under 623110 (Nursing Care Facilities) instead
- You provide non-medical companion care, homemaker services, or non-medical transportation without the presence of licensed medical professionals, which falls under 624120 (Home Health Aides) or 621390 (Other Ambulatory Health Care Services) instead
When your hospice business operates multiple service lines, you must classify each physical location or service line under the specific code that accurately describes it. You do not mix the codes for the same physical location.
Where Will You Need This Code?
Your NAICS code appears in more places than most hospice administrators expect. Here is where code 621610 will be required:
- Medicare Certification. This is highly critical. To become a Medicare-certified hospice agency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires your NAICS code to verify you are a legitimate home healthcare provider, not a residential facility.
- Insurance Credentialing. When you apply to be an in-network provider for private health insurance panels, they require this exact code to ensure you are categorized correctly within the healthcare system.
- Commercial Insurance. Insurance providers use this code to calculate your Professional Liability and General Liability premiums. In-home hospice care carries unique risks, such as medical malpractice, HIPAA compliance, or physical injury to staff working in private homes.
- SBA Loan Applications. If you need working capital to hire more nurses, buy medical supplies, or expand your agency, the Small Business Administration requires this code to assess your size standard (typically based on revenue).
- State Licensing and Compliance. State health departments heavily regulate in-home hospice agencies. They will ask for your NAICS code when you apply for your state hospice license.
- Tax Filings (Form 990). Federal and state tax agencies use this code to properly categorize your non-profit or for-profit agency for tax reporting and compliance.
- Business Bank Accounts. Banks require this code when opening commercial operating accounts to ensure your business is classified properly within the heavily regulated healthcare sector.
621610 in the NAICS Hierarchy
Every NAICS code sits inside a structured hierarchy. Here is exactly where 621610 fits:
| Level | Code | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance |
| Subsector | 621 | Ambulatory Health Care Services |
| Industry Group | 6216 | Home Health Care Services |
| NAICS Industry | 62161 | Home Health Care Services |
| National Industry | 621610 | Home Health Care Services |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NAICS code for a hospice facility or inpatient care center?
If you operate a physical building where terminally ill patients live and receive 24/7 nursing care, your code is 623110 (Necessary Code for Hospice Facilities to Ensure Accurate Classification). The federal government strictly separates physical residential care facilities from in-home care agencies.
Does code 621610 cover non-medical in-home care or companion care?
No. If your business provides non-medical companion care, homemaker services, or non-medical transportation without the presence of licensed medical professionals, it falls under 624120 (Home Health Aides) or 621390 (Other Ambulatory Health Care Services). Code 621610 is strictly for licensed medical and palliative care.
Can a single hospice agency use both 621610 and 623110?
Yes, but carefully. Many large hospice agencies operate both in-home care divisions and residential inpatient facilities. However, you must classify each physical location or specific service line under the code that accurately describes it. If you operate a physical hospice building, that specific location uses 623110, while your traveling staff who visit homes use 621610.
Does Medicare classify home hospice care under 621610?
Yes. Medicare Part A hospice benefits are explicitly tied to NAICS code 621610 (Home Health Care Services). To become a certified Medicare-certified hospice agency, the government requires you to use this exact code during the application and re-certification process.