Does Louisiana require a home care surety bond?

No. Louisiana does not require a surety bond for non-medical home care agencies. The HCBS licensing rule asks for a line of credit, not a surety bond: at least $50,000 from a federally insured lender, plus at least $300,000 in general and professional liability insurance and workers' compensation.

For the license itself, see Louisiana home care agency licensing.

What is the difference between a surety bond and a fidelity bond?

A surety bond guarantees to the state or a payer that your agency will follow the rules or repay what it owes. A fidelity or employee dishonesty bond protects clients if a caregiver steals from them. Clients and referral sources often ask for the second even where the state requires neither.

What should you confirm with the state?

The license fee is set by statute; confirm the current amount with the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section. Also confirm with LDH whether staff must be checked against the Direct Service Worker Registry.