Hospice of the Foothills
A hospice in Grass Valley, California 95945
11270 Rough and Ready Highway, Grass Valley, California 95945. (530) 272-5739.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026. We couldn’t read Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ list since Oct 27, 2026: qcor.cms.gov now refuses our reader. This record is as of then.
- 6 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 4of 5 family caregiver rating
- 10of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean3
- Star ratings
- CMS rates some kinds of place from 1 to 5 stars, more stars meaning better on CMS’s own measures for that kind: for a nursing home, its health inspections, staffing and quality measures. A rating is CMS’s summary of those measures; it doesn’t promise good care. Source: CMS, Care Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
6 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 9 hospices serving ZIP code 95945 had 6.
The last inspection on record was on Apr 3, 2026: a reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
When those deficiencies happened
6 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Apr 2026. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Oct 27, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, as cited
Rule titles as CMS’s inspectors cite them, set in sentence case.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Apr 3, 2026: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission6 deficiencies
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 158 words
“Observed in Tracer Visit. In 8 out of 19 records reviewed, multiple PRN medications were prescribed to treat the same symptom without clear guidance on when each medication should be administered. Specifically, in RRHV#1, both Lorazepam and Seroquel were ordered PRN for agitation. In RRHV#2, Tylenol and Morphine were ordered PRN for pain. Senna, Dulcolax suppositories, and enemas were ordered PRN for constipation. In RRHV#3, Tramadol, Morphine Sulfate, Diclofenac Sodium ER, and Tylenol were prescribed PRN for pain. In RRNHV#5, Lorazepam and Haldol were prescribed PRN for both moderate and severe agitation. In RRNHV#6, Tylenol and oxycodone were ordered PRN for pain. In RRNHV#7 Tylenol and Morphine Sulfate was ordered PRN for pain. In RRNHV#9, Tylenol and Morphine sulfate were ordered PRN for pain. In RRDC#1, Morphine, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen was prescribed for pain. In each instance, there was no clarification differentiating when to use each medication. These findings were confirmed by the DCPS and the Clinical Manager.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
“Observed in Record Review. In 2 out of 19 records, the organization did not provide the patient with care, treatment, or services according to the patient’s individualized plan of care. Examples: In RRNHV#5 benefit period 2, 1 nursing visit was missed during week 1 and 1 aide visit was missed in week 2. In RRNHV#7, 2 aide visits were missed in weeks 1 and 2 of benefit period 1. These findings were validated by the DPCS and were not known prior to the survey.”
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Counseling services (42 CFR 418.64(d)(1)(iii))
The inspectors’ words, 97 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 1 of the 3 bereavement records reviewed, bereavement services did not adequately reflect the needs of the bereaved. For example, during the surveyor’s review of RRBR#1 with the Bereavement Coordinator, the Coordinator verbalized that the bereaved individual’s risk level changed from low risk at the initial post-death bereavement assessment to high risk within a couple of months of the patient’s death. However, the bereavement record did not reflect an updated risk level or corresponding interventions per policy to address the increased needs of the bereaved. The Bereavement Coordinator agreed with the finding.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(3))
“Observed in Record Review. The organization was unable to provide documentation of defined competencies for the roles of Volunteer Coordinator and Bereavement Coordinator. This was confirmed by the HR Director. Observed in Record Review. In 2 out of 9 HR records reviewed, competencies were not assessed or documented as part of staff orientation. Example: In HR#3 (Volunteer Coordinator) and HR#8 (Bereavement Coordinator) files, no competencies had been documented since the date of hire. This finding was confirmed by the HR Director.”
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Authentication (42 CFR 418.104(b))
“Observed in Record Review. For selected clinicians, clinical documentation was not properly authenticated with required titles. Specifically, in RRHV#1, the electronic signatures on clinical notes for 2 of 3 nurses and 1 spiritual counselor did not include the clinician’s title or a secure unique identifier. In RRHV#2, the electronic signatures for 3 nurses likewise lacked a title or secure unique identifier. This finding was confirmed by the DCPS.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(2)(i))
“Observed in Record Review. In 2 out of 2 live discharge records, the hospice did not provide a discharge summary to the patient’s physician or other licensed practitioner in accordance with law and regulation. Examples: In RRDC#1 and RRDC#2, there was no evidence in the record of the discharge summary being sent to the patient’s physician or other licensed practitioner after discharge. This was confirmed by the DCPS.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2026 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 6 deficiencies cited |
| Mar 20, 2025 | Complaint inspection by the state | No deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Aug 3, 1994.
- Ownership: other.
- No For hospices, home health agencies, hospitals and dialysis facilities, CMS writes deficiencies at two levels. Standard is the usual one; condition-level is the more serious, when a problem is serious enough that the provider doesn’t meet a whole condition of taking part in Medicare. Source: CMS, State Operations Manual. deficiency or CMS’s most serious finding: the place’s failure to meet a rule caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to someone in its care. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 489.3. on record in the last three years.
CMS, Hospice General Information. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Has anything been proven against it?
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
- 0 deficiencies cited in the last three years came from inspections that included a complaint investigation.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Who does the caring?
- From Medicare claims (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024): 14 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 7.2% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 97% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 63% at home, 27% in assisted living, 10% in a nursing facility.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 14.0 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 7.2% |
| Visits near death | 97.0% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 17 owners or officers are people: Reed Wallace Dopf (managing employee (under contract)); Reed Wallace Dopf (corporate director, 0%); David Franco (corporate director, 0%); Howard Wilson (corporate director, 0%); Jeff Leiter (corporate director, 0%); Lorraine Plagge (corporate director, 0%); Mason Quist (corporate director, 0%); Shannon Cotter (corporate director, 0%); Shannon Cotter (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); John J Sekerak (corporate director, 0%); Emily Turcios (corporate director, 0%); Emily Turcios (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Karen Davis O Hara (corporate director, 0%); Brian D Evans (corporate director, 0%); Heidi Wingo (corporate director, 0%); Heidi Wingo (managing employee (on the payroll)); Heidi Wingo (runs it (operational or managerial control), 0%).
- No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
- No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
CMS, Hospice All Owners and Hospice Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated quarterly.
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 89% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 94% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 10 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 91.28% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 60.9% had visits from a nurse or social worker on at least 2 of their last 3 days (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | Rating |
|---|---|
| Family caregiver survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of patients’ family caregivers, 1 to 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Hospice Care IndexCMS’s Hospice Care Index, 0 to 10 (higher is better): a point for each of ten measures from Medicare claims on which the hospice meets CMS’s threshold | 10 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 9 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 95945, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 6; this one had 6.
CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Hospice of the Foothills This hospice | 6 |
| Adventist Health Home Care Services | 2 |
| Sutter Auburn Faith VNA & Hospice-Hospice | 14 |
| Bristol Hospice - Sacramento, LLC | 3 |
| Advanced Home Health and Hospice, Inc. | 5 |
| Freedom Home Health and Hospice Care Services, Inc. | 10 |
| Prohealth Home Care, Inc. | 10 |
| Pic Comfort Care | 6 |
| Interim Healthcare Hospice - Sacramento Area | 4 |
What the record doesn’t say
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
- Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
- CMS ended its Special Focus Program for hospices with serious problems on Feb 14, 2025, so no hospice is marked as one.
- Hospice quality measures have a gap from October 2025: CMS replaced its patient assessment then, and public results from the new one (HOPE) are expected around November 2027.
Sources
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice General Information (yc9t-dgbk).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Provider Data (252m-zfp9).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CAHPS Hospice Survey (gxki-hrr8).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QCOR hospice inspection reports (Hospice Survey Reports - Oct 2021 through Sep 2026.xlsx).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice All Owners (e983965e-1603-4cb8-82b5-c40090e380d1).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Enrollments (25704213-e833-4b8b-9dbc-58dd17149209).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice ZIP Data (95rg-2usp).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: CMS. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 27, 2026.
From the hospice
The public record above comes first. Anything the hospice adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospice will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the hospice”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.