Essentia Health Hospice West
Fosston, MN · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 241564)
CMS process measure: 95.12 (state average 97.62 — below state average)
Serves: 18 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (218) 435-1133 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
CMS has not published CAHPS family-caregiver survey results for Essentia Health Hospice West, so no star rating or recommend percentage is available. On CMS's composite process measure, this hospice scored 95.12, which is below the Minnesota state average of 97.62.
Essentia Health Hospice West serves 18 ZIP codes from its Fosston, Minnesota office in Polk County, according to CMS Care Compare data.
Yes, Essentia Health Hospice West is Medicare-certified (CCN 241564, certified since 1997); the Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Essentia Health Hospice West is a non-profit hospice based in Fosston, Minnesota, serving Polk County and the surrounding area. According to CMS Care Compare data, this hospice has been Medicare-certified since March 20, 1997.
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, often because too few surveys were completed to report reliably. This does not indicate poor quality — it simply means the data has not been published.
On CMS's composite process measure, which reflects how consistently a hospice performs a bundle of recommended care processes, Essentia Health Hospice West scored 95.12, compared to a Minnesota state average of 97.62 — placing it below the state average on this measure. CMS also reports a care index score of 10 and notes that 55.8% of patients received visits in the last days of life, according to the most recently published Care Compare data.
Essentia Health Hospice West serves 18 ZIP codes from its Fosston, Minnesota office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility; no additional cost information is provided here. Families are encouraged to verify all figures directly on Medicare Care Compare and to contact the hospice with specific questions.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Essentia Health Hospice West is Medicare-certified (CCN 241564) and has been since March 20, 1997. 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 survey results (star rating or recommend percentages) for this hospice, which often happens when there are too few surveyed patients to report reliably; this does not imply poor quality.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
On CMS's composite process measure, Essentia Health Hospice West scored 95.12, compared to the Minnesota state average of 97.62, placing it below the state average.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
This hospice serves 18 ZIP codes from its Fosston, Minnesota office in Polk County, per CMS Care Compare data.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 18 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
Essentia Health Hospice West is organized as a non-profit hospice. Ownership type can be a factor families weigh alongside quality measures, but CMS data does not link ownership type directly to quality scores.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
It has been Medicare-certified since March 20, 1997, 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 for patients with a life-limiting illness who have generally stopped curative treatment.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the goal of care to comfort and quality of life rather than curing the underlying illness; it does not mean giving up on care, symptom management, or support for the patient and family.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
CMS data provided here does not specify care settings for this hospice; please contact Essentia Health Hospice West at (218) 435-1133 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data available does not describe the intake process; please contact the hospice directly at (218) 435-1133 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families may wish to ask about services offered, how visits are staffed near end of life, and how the hospice's CMS quality measures compare to state averages; contact Essentia Health Hospice West at (218) 435-1133 for specifics.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Essentia Health Hospice West (CCN 241564) directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/241564?state=MN to review its published CMS 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.