Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines
West Des Moines, IA · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 161594)
CMS process measure: 94.89 (state average 97.19 — below state average)
Serves: 67 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (515) 223-3813 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Family caregivers gave Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines a 3-star CAHPS rating, with 75% saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 94.89 is below the Iowa state average of 97.19.
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines serves 67 ZIP codes from its office in West Des Moines, Iowa, in Dallas County.
Yes, Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines is Medicare-certified (CCN 161594, since 2009); the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines is a Medicare-certified hospice located in West Des Moines, Iowa, in Dallas County. It has been Medicare-certified since October 15, 2009, and is classified under CMS as an "Other" ownership type.
According to CMS Care Compare CAHPS survey data, family caregivers gave this hospice an overall rating of 3 stars. Seventy-five percent of surveyed family caregivers said they would definitely recommend this hospice to others, and 75 percent rated their overall experience a 9 or 10 out of 10.
On CMS's composite process measure, which reflects how consistently core hospice care processes were delivered, this hospice scored 94.89, 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 10 and notes that 63.0 percent of patients received visits from hospice staff in the final days of life, based on published data.
This hospice reports serving 67 ZIP codes from its West Des Moines office, reflecting a broad service area in the region.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a physician certifies eligibility; no cost details beyond this are available here. All figures above come from CMS Care Compare data and reflect the vintage published by CMS at the time of this listing. Where a measure is not listed above, CMS has not published it for this hospice, which can occur simply due to small patient counts and does not by itself indicate poor quality.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines is Medicare-certified (CCN 161594) since October 15, 2009, 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's CAHPS survey gives this hospice an overall 3-star rating, with 75% of family caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it and 75% rating their experience a 9 or 10 out of 10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Its composite process score is 94.89, which is below the Iowa state average of 97.19, according to CMS Care Compare data.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
This hospice reports serving 67 ZIP codes from its West Des Moines, Iowa office in Dallas County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 67 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
CMS classifies this hospice's ownership type as "Other." Ownership type is one factor families may consider, but CMS quality measures apply regardless of ownership.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
This hospice has been Medicare-certified since October 15, 2009.
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness alongside curative treatment to ease symptoms, while hospice care focuses on comfort for people who have stopped curative treatment and are generally expected to have a limited life expectancy.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the focus of care to comfort and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness, but it does not mean giving up care — supportive medical, emotional, and spiritual care continue.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The data provided does not specify care settings; please contact the hospice at (515) 223-3813 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 the hospice at (515) 223-3813 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about caregiver satisfaction ratings, how a hospice's quality measures compare to state averages, the size of its service area, and how to reach staff — contact the hospice at (515) 223-3813 for specifics.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/161594?state=IA using CCN 161594.
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.