Are you resigning from your role at a home health or hospice agency but unsure how to go about it? Or are you an agency dealing with a key staff member that recently resigned and unsure how to respond?
At The Home Health Consultant, we’ve helped thousands of agencies navigate staff change applications with confidence. Through our consistent work with agencies and California Department of Public Health (CDPH), we’ve been able to pinpoint patterns in their processes to make sure your application gets approved the first time around.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to resign properly, ensure compliance, and avoid common pitfalls.
You’ll learn:
- the legal Requirements for resigning from a home health or hospice in California
- How long agencies have to replace key staff
- How the resignee can submit a resignation to CDPH and their agency
- Common reasons for application rejections—and how to avoid them
By the end, you'll feel confident and prepared if you yourself, or one of your employees, resigns from a home health or hospice agency.
What Are the Reportable Staff Positions for Home Health & Hospice Agencies in California?
Unlike many other industries, home health and hospice agencies in California must adhere to strict regulations when it comes to the resignation, hiring, and replacement of key personnel.
These rules are enforced by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which mandates that certain positions be reported and approved. The following roles require official reporting:
Reportable Staff for Home Health Agencies
- Administrator
- Administrator Designee
- Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS)
Reportable Staff for Hospice Agencies
- Medical Director
- Administrator
- Administrator Designee
- Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS)
- Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS) Designee
For a more in-depth breakdown of the information home health and hospice agencies must report changes for, check out our article on Reportable Changes.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Resigning from a Home Health or Hospice Role in California?
CDPH requires that these positions be filled before submitting an enrollment application for approval. Once submitted, CDPH evaluates whether the listed staff meet California’s regulatory criteria.
Under state law, agencies cannot have a vacancy in any of these critical positions for more than 30 days. This means that from the day a staff member resigns or is terminated, the agency has a maximum of 30 days to find a suitable replacement.
Additionally, agencies are granted a 10-business-day reporting period to submit the Change of Staff application. This gives agencies approximately six weeks in total to fill the vacancy and obtain approval.
What to Do When a Home Health or Hospice Key Staff Member Resigns
If you’re losing one of your required staff members, there are obviously going to be a few necessary operational adjustments. But there are also legal requirements for what must occur during a resignation.
During a transition period, a Designee is required to step into the role until a new hire is approved. After this, the Designee is often permanently promoted. The designee already understands agency operations and has met the requirements for the position.
This doesn’t mean you’re locked into permanently hiring your designee. You always have the option to hire an external candidate, though this often elongates the process.
New hires for reportable positions should be informed that their role remains probationary until CDPH grants official approval.
Why Your Home Health or Hospice Staff Change Application Is Delayed or Denied
The CDPH Centralized Applications Branch (CAB) handles thousands of healthcare applications a year. This can result in extensive processing delays. The duration of processing varies based on:
- Existing backlog at CDPH
- Completeness of the initial application
- Timeliness of the agency’s response to CDPH requests
- Payment of required application fees
- Seasonal fluctuations in processing volume
Applications may also be denied for:
- Failing to meet CDPH criteria
- Late payments
- Incomplete documentation
To learn more about why your staff change application may have been denied, check out our article on ‘Why Your Home Health or Hospice Resume May Have Been Rejected.‘
If an application is denied, the agency must restart the process from scratch. This elongates an already lengthy process and will cause further operational delays for your agency. With this, keep in mind that until your change of staff application is submitted, in the eyes of CDPH, the resigning employee will remain officially associated with the agency.
This is why you want to be especially proactive about a staff resignation. Failure to report this change in a timely manner can result in multiple headaches for your agency down the road as this is a State, accreditor and CoP requirement.
How to Resign from a Home Health or Hospice Role While Staying Compliant: Step-by-Step
To ensure compliance and protect both the individual and the agency, follow these best practices:
- Provide Ample Notice: While a two-week notice is standard in many industries, home health and hospice agencies benefit from at least 30 to 60 days of notice. This allows sufficient time for recruitment and regulatory approval.
- Submit a Written Resignation: Ensure the resignation is documented in writing with a clear effective date.
- Notify CDPH Upon Resignation: While not mandatory, notifying CDPH by mail or email ensures written documentation of your departure. Make sure you include the date of resignation. This protects you from any future liability.
Home Health & Hospice Sample Resignation Letters (Addressed to Agencies & CDPH)
To help simplify the process for departing applicants, see the sample resignation letters below for both your agency and CDPH.
Resignation Letter to Agency
[Date]
Attn: [Agency Name]
[Agency Address]
Dear [Agency Representative],
This letter serves as my formal notice of resignation from my position as [Administrator/DPCS/Medical Director] at [Agency Name], effective [Last Working Day].
Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this role. I appreciate the experience and support during my tenure.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Resignation Letter to CDPH
[Date]
Attn: California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Program
Centralized Applications Branch
P.O. Box 997377, MS 3207
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Dear CDPH Representative,
I am writing to formally notify CDPH of my resignation as [Administrator/DPCS/Medical Director] at [Agency Name], effective [Last Working Day]. Please update your records accordingly.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
CDPH Contact Information
You can notify CDPH of your resignation either by email or physical mail. Below, you’ll find the addresses for resignation letters as of February 2025.
- Email: CAB@cdph.ca.gov
- Mail:
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Program
Centralized Applications Branch
P.O. Box 997377, MS 3207
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Need Help with Home Health or Hospice Resignation? Here’s How We Can Assist
If you’re resigning from a key position at a home health or hospice agency, it’s critical to follow CDPH guidelines to avoid compliance issues. The biggest mistake agencies make? Failing to report changes on time, leading to legal complications.
If you need help with your staff change application, our sister company Smart Business Solutions can guide you through the process.
But if you want to learn more about required staff positions, check out our article on Administrators below.
The best way to stay on top of state and federal regulations, is to keep yourself and your staff educated and familiar with regulations.
*This article was written in consultation with Mariam Treystman.
*Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal, financial, or professional advice. No consultant-client relationship is established by engaging with this content. You should seek the advice of a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding any legal or business matters. The consultant assumes no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.
