Penn Highlands Community Nurses
Saint Marys, PA · Medicare-certified hospice (CCN 391562)
CMS process measure: 98.61 (state average 95.55 — above state average)
Serves: 69 ZIP codes (is yours included? →) · Phone: (814) 781-1415 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Penn Highlands Community Nurses holds a 5-star CAHPS family caregiver rating, with 92% of caregivers saying they would definitely recommend it. Its CMS composite process score of 98.61 is above the Pennsylvania state average of 95.55.
Penn Highlands Community Nurses serves 69 ZIP codes from its Saint Marys, PA office in Elk County. Families can contact the hospice directly to confirm coverage for a specific address.
Yes, Penn Highlands Community Nurses is Medicare-certified (CCN 391562), certified since November 18, 1992. The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients once a doctor certifies their eligibility.
About this hospice
Penn Highlands Community Nurses is a non-profit hospice based in Saint Marys, Pennsylvania, serving families in Elk County and the surrounding region. The hospice has been Medicare-certified since November 18, 1992 (CCN 391562).
According to CMS Care Compare data, family caregivers who responded to the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey gave this provider a 5-star overall rating. Ninety-two percent of respondents said they would definitely recommend this hospice to others, and 88% gave it a top rating of 9 or 10 out of 10.
On the CMS composite process measure, which reflects the percentage of recommended care processes provided, Penn Highlands Community Nurses scored 98.61, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 95.55. CMS also reports a care index score of 9 and notes that 69.1% of patients received visits from staff in the final days of life, according to available data.
Penn Highlands Community Nurses reports serving 69 ZIP codes from its Saint Marys office. Families in this area can confirm whether their specific ZIP code is covered by contacting the hospice directly.
The Medicare hospice benefit covers hospice care for eligible patients when a physician certifies eligibility; no cost figures are provided here. All figures in this listing come from CMS Care Compare data and reflect the most recently published vintage available. Where a measure is not listed, CMS has not published it for this hospice, which is often related to small patient counts rather than any indication of quality.
Questions families ask
Does Medicare cover care from this hospice?
Yes. Penn Highlands Community Nurses is Medicare-certified (CCN 391562), certified since November 18, 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?
Family caregivers gave Penn Highlands Community Nurses a 5-star CAHPS rating, with 92% saying they would definitely recommend it and 88% 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 98.61, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 95.55, according to CMS Care Compare data.
What areas and ZIP codes does this hospice serve?
This hospice reports serving 69 ZIP codes from its office in Saint Marys, Elk County, Pennsylvania.
Tip: use our Search by ZIP Code feature to check instantly whether your ZIP is among the 69 this hospice reports serving.
Is this hospice for-profit, non-profit, or government-run — and does it matter?
Penn Highlands Community Nurses is a non-profit hospice; ownership type is one factor CMS reports, but it should be considered alongside CAHPS and quality measure data.
How long has this hospice been Medicare-certified?
It has been Medicare-certified since November 18, 1992.
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 who have stopped curative treatment and typically have a prognosis of six months or less, as determined by a physician.
Does choosing hospice mean giving up treatment?
Choosing hospice means shifting the focus of care from curing an illness to comfort and quality of life; it does not mean giving up on care, support, or attention, which continue throughout the hospice experience.
Where is hospice care provided — at home or in a facility?
This data does not specify where care is delivered; contact Penn Highlands Community Nurses at (814) 781-1415 and verify details on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I start hospice care with this provider?
Contact Penn Highlands Community Nurses at (814) 781-1415 to learn about starting care, and verify current information on Medicare Care Compare.
What questions should I ask when choosing a hospice?
Families often ask about CAHPS caregiver ratings, CMS quality measure scores, ZIP codes served, and Medicare certification status — all of which are covered in this listing using CMS Care Compare data.
How do I verify this hospice on Medicare Care Compare?
You can look up Penn Highlands Community Nurses directly at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospice/391562?state=PA.
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.