Hospice Of Palo Alto County
Emmetsburg, IA · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 161530)
CMS process measure: 93.62 (state average 97.19 — below state average)
Serves: 14 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (712) 852-5419 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
CMS has not published CAHPS family caregiver survey results for Hospice Of Palo Alto County, so no star rating or percent-recommend figure is available. On the CMS composite process measure, it scored 93.62, which is below the Iowa state average of 97.19.
Hospice Of Palo Alto County serves 14 ZIP codes from its Emmetsburg, IA office in Palo Alto county.
Yes, Hospice Of Palo Alto County is Medicare-certified (CCN 161530), certified since 1993; the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Hospice Of Palo Alto County is a government-owned hospice based in Emmetsburg, Iowa, serving Palo Alto County and the surrounding area. According to CMS Care Compare data, it has been Medicare-certified since September 7, 1993.
CMS has not published CAHPS family caregiver survey results (star rating, percent who would definitely recommend, or percent rating the hospice 9-10) for this hospice. This often happens when a hospice serves too few patients in the survey period for CMS to publish 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 performs a set of recommended care processes, this hospice scored 93.62, compared with the Iowa state average of 97.19 — placing it below the state average on this measure. CMS also reports a care index score of 10 for this hospice, and reports that 91.3% of patients received visits from hospice staff in the last days of life, according to the referenced CMS data.
This hospice's service area, per CMS data, covers 14 ZIP codes from its Emmetsburg office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility; no cost details are provided here. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as supplied; families are encouraged to confirm current details directly with the hospice and on Medicare Care Compare.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Hospice Of Palo Alto County is Medicare-certified (CCN 161530) since September 7, 1993, 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 (star rating or percent recommend) for this hospice, often because of small patient counts; this does not indicate poor quality.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Its composite process score is 93.62, compared with the Iowa state average of 97.19, placing it below the state average. CMS also lists a care index score of 10 and reports 91.3% of patients received visits in the last days of life.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
According to CMS data, it serves 14 ZIP codes from its Emmetsburg, Iowa office in Palo Alto County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 14 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
It is government-owned. Ownership type can relate to organizational structure and reporting, but CMS's published quality measures are the more direct way to compare care.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
It has been Medicare-certified since September 7, 1993, 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 is generally for patients with a life-limiting illness who are no longer pursuing curative treatment and typically have a prognosis of six months or less.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
No. Hospice focuses on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness, but patients still receive active medical care and support.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The provided data does not specify care settings; contact the hospice at (712) 852-5419 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data does not describe the enrollment process; contact the hospice at (712) 852-5419 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about CMS quality measures, service area, ownership, and how care needs will be met; contact the hospice at (712) 852-5419 for specifics not covered by CMS data.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look it up at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/161530?state=IA using CCN 161530.
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.