Visiting Nurses Hospice
Lawrence, KS · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 171511)
CMS process measure: 96.71 (state average 95.71 — at state average)
Serves: 11 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (785) 843-3738 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Visiting Nurses Hospice has a 4-star family caregiver rating from CMS, with 85% of caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 96.71 is at the Kansas state average of 95.71.
Visiting Nurses Hospice serves 11 ZIP codes from its Lawrence, Kansas office in Douglas County.
Yes, Visiting Nurses Hospice is Medicare-certified (CCN 171511, since 1992); the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Visiting Nurses Hospice is a for-profit hospice agency based in Lawrence, Kansas, serving families in Douglas County and the surrounding area. According to CMS Care Compare data, the hospice has been Medicare-certified since May 1, 1992.
In the CMS CAHPS family caregiver survey, Visiting Nurses Hospice received a 4-star overall rating. Among surveyed caregivers, 85% said they would definitely recommend this hospice to others, and 83% rated their overall experience of care between 9 and 10 on a 10-point scale.
On the CMS composite process measure, which reflects how consistently core hospice care processes are delivered, Visiting Nurses Hospice scored 96.71, which CMS classifies as at the state average compared to the Kansas average of 95.71. CMS also reports a care index score of 10 and notes that 86.0% of patients had visits in the last days of life, according to the published data.
Visiting Nurses Hospice reports serving 11 ZIP codes from its Lawrence, KS office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a physician certifies eligibility; no cost details are provided here beyond that fact.
All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data as most recently published; where CMS has not published a particular measure for this hospice, that reflects data availability, often due to small patient counts, rather than an indication of quality.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes, Visiting Nurses Hospice is Medicare-certified (CCN 171511) since May 1, 1992, 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?
In the CMS CAHPS survey, Visiting Nurses Hospice received a 4-star rating, with 85% of caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it and 83% rating their overall experience 9-10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Its composite process score is 96.71, which CMS classifies as at the state average of 95.71 for Kansas.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
Visiting Nurses Hospice reports serving 11 ZIP codes from its Lawrence, Kansas office in Douglas County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 11 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
CMS lists Visiting Nurses Hospice as for-profit; ownership type is public information but CMS quality measures apply regardless of ownership.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
It has been Medicare-certified since May 1, 1992, 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 for patients who have chosen to focus on comfort rather than curative treatment, typically when a doctor certifies a life expectancy of six months or less.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the goal of care toward comfort and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness; it does not mean giving up care, support, or medical attention.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
This is not specified in the CMS data provided; please contact Visiting Nurses Hospice at (785) 843-3738 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The CMS data does not describe intake steps; contact Visiting Nurses Hospice at (785) 843-3738 to learn 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 satisfaction ratings, quality measure scores, service area, and how care is coordinated; you can review these details for Visiting Nurses Hospice on Medicare Care Compare and also ask directly by calling (785) 843-3738.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Visiting Nurses Hospice (CCN 171511) directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/171511?state=KS to confirm current ratings and details.
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.