First Choice Hospice
Harrisonburg, VA · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 491620)
CMS process measure: 95.16 (state average 96.57 — below state average)
Serves: 29 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (540) 434-3916 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
First Choice Hospice has a 3-star family caregiver rating on the CMS CAHPS survey, with 80% of caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 95.16 is below the Virginia state average of 96.57.
First Choice Hospice serves 29 ZIP codes from its Harrisonburg, Virginia office in Rockingham County. Families can contact the hospice directly to confirm whether a specific address falls within its service area.
Yes, First Choice Hospice is Medicare-certified (CCN 491620), certified since January 22, 2016. The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies their eligibility.
About this hospice
First Choice Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice serving Harrisonburg, Virginia and surrounding Rockingham County. It has held an "Other" ownership designation and has been Medicare-certified since January 22, 2016.
According to CMS Care Compare data, family caregivers who responded to the CAHPS Hospice Survey gave First Choice Hospice an overall rating of 3 stars. Among respondents, 80% said they would definitely recommend the hospice to others, and 77% rated their overall experience of care 9 or 10 out of 10.
CMS also publishes a composite process measure, which looks at how consistently a hospice completes a bundle of recommended care processes. First Choice Hospice's composite process score is 95.16, compared with a Virginia state average of 96.57 — placing it below the state average on this measure. CMS's care index score for this hospice is listed as 8, and 46.8% of patients had visits during their final days of life, per the most recent published data.
First Choice Hospice reports serving 29 ZIP codes from its Harrisonburg office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients whose doctor certifies their eligibility. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data; families should confirm the vintage and any updates directly on Care Compare or with the hospice, since some measures reflect small patient counts and are not indicators of poor quality when unpublished.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. First Choice Hospice is Medicare-certified (CCN 491620), certified since January 22, 2016, and the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies their eligibility.
What do family caregivers say about this hospice in the CMS survey?
In the CMS CAHPS survey, First Choice Hospice received an overall rating of 3 stars, with 80% of family caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it and 77% rating their experience 9 or 10 out of 10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Its CMS composite process score is 95.16, which is below the Virginia state average of 96.57.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
First Choice Hospice serves 29 ZIP codes from its Harrisonburg, Virginia office in Rockingham County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 29 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
CMS lists its ownership type as "Other." Ownership type does not by itself indicate quality of care, though families may still want to understand it when comparing hospices.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
First Choice Hospice has been Medicare-certified since January 22, 2016.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness alongside curative treatment, while hospice care is for patients who have chosen to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment, typically when a doctor certifies a prognosis of six months or less.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the focus of care to comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness; it does not mean giving up care or support.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The data provided does not specify care settings for First Choice Hospice; please contact the hospice at (540) 434-3916 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data provided does not describe the intake process; please contact First Choice Hospice at (540) 434-3916 to learn how to begin care and verify current details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about caregiver satisfaction ratings, how the hospice performs on CMS quality measures compared to the state average, the ZIP codes served, and how long the hospice has been Medicare-certified — all of which are covered in this listing.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up First Choice Hospice directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/491620?state=VA to confirm current CMS ratings and measures.
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.