Elara Caring
Independence, MO · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 261596)
CMS process measure: 100 (state average 95.27 — above state average)
Serves: 37 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (816) 444-4611 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
CMS has not published a CAHPS family-caregiver star rating or recommend percentage for Elara Caring, but its composite process measure is 100.00, above the Missouri state average of 95.27.
Elara Caring serves 37 ZIP codes from its Independence, Missouri office in Jackson County.
Yes, Elara Caring is Medicare-certified (CCN 261596, since 2004); the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Elara Caring is a Medicare-certified hospice located in Independence, Missouri, serving Jackson County and the surrounding area. Its ownership type is listed by CMS as "Other," and the hospice has been Medicare-certified since January 7, 2004.
CMS Care Compare publishes a CAHPS Hospice Survey to capture what family caregivers say about the care they and their loved ones received. For Elara Caring, CMS has not published a star rating, a percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend the hospice, or a percentage rating the hospice 9-10, for this listing. This is often the case for hospices with smaller patient counts, and it should not be read as a sign of poor quality.
CMS does publish a composite process measure for Elara Caring, showing a score of 100.00, compared with the Missouri state average of 95.27 — placing this hospice above the state average on this measure. CMS also reports a care index score of 9 and notes that 80.5% of patients received visits from hospice staff in the final days of life, according to the data provided.
Elara Caring's service area, as reflected in CMS data, spans 37 ZIP codes from its Independence office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as provided; families are encouraged to verify current details directly on Medicare Care Compare.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Elara Caring is Medicare-certified (CCN 261596) since January 7, 2004, and the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
What do family caregivers say about this hospice in the CMS survey?
CMS has not published CAHPS survey results (star rating, percent who would recommend, or percent rating 9-10) for Elara Caring, which often happens for hospices with smaller patient counts; this does not indicate poor quality.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Elara Caring's composite process measure is 100.00, compared with the Missouri state average of 95.27, placing it above the state average. CMS also reports a care index score of 9 and that 80.5% of patients received visits from staff in the last days of life.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
According to CMS data, Elara Caring serves 37 ZIP codes from its office in Independence, Missouri, in Jackson County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 37 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
CMS lists Elara Caring's ownership type as "Other." Ownership type does not by itself indicate quality of care; families may want to review the quality measures alongside this information.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
Elara Caring has been Medicare-certified since January 7, 2004.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness alongside curative treatment and focuses on comfort, while hospice care is generally for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less who have chosen to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means focusing on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatment for the terminal illness, but patients can still receive treatment for unrelated conditions and can leave hospice care if their situation changes.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The CMS data provided does not specify where Elara Caring delivers care; contact the hospice at (816) 444-4611 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data provided does not include enrollment steps; contact Elara Caring at (816) 444-4611 to ask how to begin care and verify current information on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about caregiver survey results, quality measures compared to the state average, service area, and how care is coordinated; contact Elara Caring at (816) 444-4611 for specifics not covered by published CMS data.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Elara Caring (CCN 261596) directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/261596?state=MO to confirm current CMS data.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Jul2026 refresh). Survey results are reported by family caregivers through the official CAHPS Hospice Survey; CMS publishes them only above response-count thresholds. Always verify current details with the hospice and Medicare before arranging care.