Essentia Health St Mary'S Hospice & Palliative Care Services
Duluth, MN · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 241521)
CMS process measure: 97.48 (state average 97.62 — at state average)
Serves: 114 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (218) 786-4020 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services holds a 4-star CAHPS family caregiver rating, with 89% of families saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 97.48 is at the Minnesota state average of 97.62.
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services serves 114 ZIP codes from its Duluth, Minnesota office in St. Louis County. Families outside this range should contact the hospice directly to confirm coverage.
Yes, Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services is Medicare-certified, with CCN 241521, certified since March 21, 1991. The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a doctor certifies eligibility.
About this hospice
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services is a non-profit hospice based in Duluth, Minnesota, serving families in St. Louis County and surrounding areas. It has been Medicare-certified since March 21, 1991 (CCN 241521).
According to CMS Care Compare survey data, family caregivers gave this hospice a 4-star CAHPS rating. Among those surveyed, 89% said they would definitely recommend this hospice, and 83% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10 overall. On CMS's composite process quality measure, Essentia Health St Mary's scored 97.48, which CMS characterizes as at the Minnesota state average of 97.62. CMS also reports a care index score of 9, and that 68.0% of patients received visits from hospice staff in the last days of life, per available data.
The hospice's service area, as reported to CMS, spans 114 ZIP codes reachable from its Duluth office.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible beneficiaries when a doctor certifies eligibility; no cost or fee information is provided here beyond that fact.
All figures in this profile come from CMS Care Compare data as most recently published, and reflect the vintage of that dataset. Where a measure is not listed here, it means CMS has not published that particular figure for this hospice, which is common for smaller patient volumes and should not be read as a sign of lower quality. Families are encouraged to review the full profile on Medicare Care Compare and to contact the hospice directly with specific questions about care.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services is Medicare-certified (CCN 241521) since March 21, 1991, 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 survey data shows a 4-star CAHPS rating, with 89% of families saying they would definitely recommend this hospice and 83% rating it 9 or 10 out of 10.
How does this hospice score on CMS quality measures compared to the state average?
Its composite process measure score is 97.48, which CMS lists as at the Minnesota state average of 97.62.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
It serves 114 ZIP codes from its Duluth, Minnesota office in St. Louis County.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 114 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
It is a non-profit hospice; ownership type can inform how a hospice is organized, though CMS quality measures are the most direct indicator of care experience.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
It has been Medicare-certified since March 21, 1991.
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 those with a terminal diagnosis who have generally chosen to stop curative treatment.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
No — hospice shifts the focus to comfort and quality of life rather than curing an illness, but it does not mean giving up care; patients still receive medical attention aimed at managing symptoms and pain.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
The provided data doesn't specify care settings; please contact the hospice at (218) 786-4020 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
The data doesn't include enrollment steps; contact the hospice directly at (218) 786-4020 to learn how to begin care, and verify certification details on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about CAHPS survey results, quality measure scores, service area, and how visits are scheduled near the end of life; you can review these details on Medicare Care Compare and ask the hospice directly at (218) 786-4020.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services (CCN 241521) at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/241521?state=MN.
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.