Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines)
Ames, IA · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 161616)
CMS process measure: 91.18 (state average 97.19 — below state average)
Serves: 35 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (515) 346-3321 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
CMS has not published CAHPS family caregiver survey results for Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines), so no star rating or recommend percentage is available. On CMS's composite process measure, it scored 91.18, which is below the Iowa state average of 97.19.
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines) serves 35 ZIP codes from its Ames, IA office in Story County.
Yes, Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines) is Medicare-certified (CCN 161616, since 2022); the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines) is a Medicare-certified hospice based in Ames, Iowa, serving families in Story County and the surrounding area. CMS Care Compare records show this hospice has been Medicare-certified since August 15, 2022. The data provided to us does not include an ownership designation for this hospice, so families should confirm whether it operates as for-profit, non-profit, or government-run directly with the hospice or on Medicare Care Compare.
CMS has not published CAHPS family caregiver survey results — such as a star rating, percentage who would definitely recommend, or percentage rating the hospice 9-10 — for this hospice in the data available to us. This is often the case when patient counts are too small for CMS to report reliable results, and it should not be read as a sign of poor quality.
On the CMS composite process measure, which reflects how consistently a hospice completes recommended care processes, this hospice scored 91.18, compared to a state average of 97.19 for Iowa — placing it below the state average on this measure. CMS also reports a care index score of 8 and notes that 70.2% of patients received visits in the last days of life, according to the most recent Care Compare data.
This hospice serves 35 ZIP codes from its Ames office. The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as most recently published.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes, Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines) is Medicare-certified, with certification dating to August 15, 2022 (CCN 161616), 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 family caregiver survey results for this hospice in the data available to us, which often happens when patient counts are too small to report — it does not indicate poor quality.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
This hospice scored 91.18 on the CMS composite process measure, compared to a state average of 97.19 for Iowa, placing it below the state average on this measure.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
This hospice serves 35 ZIP codes from its Ames, Iowa office in Story County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 35 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
The data available to us does not specify this hospice's ownership type; please contact the hospice at (515) 346-3321 or check Medicare Care Compare to confirm.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
This hospice has been Medicare-certified since August 15, 2022, according to CMS records.
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 focuses on comfort and quality of life for people who are no longer pursuing curative treatment, typically in the last months of life.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the focus of care toward comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness; it is not about giving up care, but about changing its goals.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The data provided does not specify where this hospice delivers care; please contact the hospice at (515) 346-3321 to ask about their settings, or verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
To start hospice care, contact the hospice directly at (515) 346-3321 and verify current details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families may want to ask about caregiver survey results, quality measure scores, service area, and how care is coordinated; contact the hospice at (515) 346-3321 for specifics not covered in CMS data.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up this hospice using CCN 161616 at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/161616?state=IA to review the latest CMS-published 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.