CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for home health care agencies in Gulfport, MS
Home health care agencies in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area: 31 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 22-person team.
- Establishments
- 31CBP 2023
- Employees
- 695mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.3U.S. 12.0
- Rank
- 168th of 743areas by count
How many home health care agencies are in Gulfport, MS?
There were 31 home health care agencies in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621610, Home Health Care Services). They employed 695 people in mid-March and paid $37.7 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 168th out of 743 areas with published figures for home health care agencies.
Measured against its 427,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 7.3 home health care agencies per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.0, so Gulfport, MS is 39.4% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 22.4 employees, compared with 39.7 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $54,176, 42.2% above the national $38,091.
| Measure | Gulfport, MS | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 31 | 309 | 40,762 |
| Mid-March employees | 695 (moderate noise) | 8,852 (moderate noise) | 1,618,759 |
| Annual payroll | $37,652,000 | $354,341,000 (moderate noise) | $61,660,393,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.4 | 28.6 | 39.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $54,176 | $40,029 | $38,091 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.3 | 10.5 | 12.0 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big home health care agencies in Gulfport, MS are
Of the home health care agencies in Gulfport, MS that had employees in March 2023, 33.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 35.7%). When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 33.3% | 35.7% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 11.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 8 | 29.6% | 14.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 10 | 37.0% | 20.2% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 17.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a home health agency in Gulfport, MS has to catch
Home health agencies coordinate clinicians in the field with patients, families, physicians and payers, so the office phone is a dispatch line as much as a reception desk. Clinicians need to make calls from their own cell phones without exposing personal numbers. That holds for home health care agencies in Gulfport, MS as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to home health care agencies in Gulfport, MS:
- A hospital discharge planner calls with a new referral.
- A family member calls to ask what time the nurse will arrive.
- A clinician in the field calls the office about a schedule change.
What home health care agencies text about
Agencies use texting to confirm visit windows with patients and families.
Texts sent from a local business number in Gulfport, MS have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 22-person home health agency
The average home health agency in Gulfport, MS has 22.4 employees, so a 22-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $548.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $660.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $439.00 a month for 22 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,652 less than RingCentral for a home health agency in Gulfport, MS of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $439.00 | $5,268.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $418.00 | $5,016.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $506.00 | $6,072.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $548.90 | $6,586.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $594.00 | $7,128.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $660.00 | $7,920.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Gulfport, MS
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 228 has the most, with 247 of 260 exchanges (95%). A local number lets patients and families in Gulfport, MS call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | 247 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 601 | 13 | Central | 1947 | 769 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for home health care agencies
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Gulfport, MS is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many home health care agencies are there in Gulfport, MS?
Census County Business Patterns counted 31 home health care agencies in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area in 2023. They employed 695 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 22-person home health agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users cost $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $439.00.
What area code should a home health agency in Gulfport, MS use?
Area code 228 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 601. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a home health agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.