South Valley Hospice Services, Inc.
A hospice in Agoura Hills, California 91301
30851 Agoura Rd. Ste. 105, Agoura Hills, California 91301. (818) 227-0070.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- Not rated family caregiver rating
- 9of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean3
- 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.
- Condition-level deficiency
- 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.
What did inspectors find?
28 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 62 hospices serving ZIP code 91301 had 5.
The last inspection on record was on Apr 19, 2024: a follow-up inspection by The Joint Commission.
2 deficiencies at condition level, the more serious of CMS’s two levels
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
28 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2024. Most serious: Condition-level. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 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 | Nov |
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.
Mar 7, 2024: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission28 deficiencies
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Establishment of the Emergency Program (EP) (42 CFR 418.113)
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a comprehensive emergency management program utilizing an all-hazards approach. The current plan was last revised in 2020. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Governing body and administrator (42 CFR 418.100(b))
“Observed in Tracer Activities. Leaders did not manage implementation of policies and procedures governing the provision of care. Documentation failures were identified in the following: the emergency operations plan; the infection control program; and documentation of certificates of terminal illness in the medical records. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Develop EP Plan, Review and Update Annually (42 CFR 418.113(a))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not review and update the plan based on after-action reports or opportunities for improvement every two years or more frequently. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Plan Based on All Hazards Risk Assessment (42 CFR 418.113(a)(2))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. In the absence of an evaluated and prioritized hazard vulnerability assessment, the hospice was not able to identify and implement mitigation and preparedness activities. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. There was no evidence that the hospice evaluated and prioritized the findings of the hazard vulnerability assessment. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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EP Program Patient Population (42 CFR 418.113(a)(3))
The inspectors’ words, 234 words
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a continuity plan that identified in writing how and where it would continue to provide essential business functions when the service location had been compromised due to an emergency. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a written delegation of authority plan to provide the individual with the legal authorization to act on behalf of the organization for specified purposes and to carry out specific duties. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. In the absence of an emergency operations plan, the hospice did not identify the patient populations that it would serve and the services it would provide. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a written continuity of operations plan developed with the participation of leaders. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a written order of succession that identified who was authorized to assume a particular leadership or management role when that person was unable to perform their duties. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Local, State, Tribal Collaboration Process (42 CFR 418.113(a)(4))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. In the absence of an emergency operations plan, the hospice could not document a process for cooperating and collaborating with other health care organizations. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Development of EP Policies and Procedures (42 CFR 418.113(b))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a written all-hazards emergency operations plan with supporting policies and procedures to provide guidance to staff and volunteers on actions to take during emergency or disaster incidents. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Hospice Follow up for Staff (42 CFR 418.113(b)(1))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice’s plan for providing patient care and clinical support did not include written procedures for determining what services were needed in the event of an interruption in services during an emergency. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Procedures for Tracking of Staff and Patients (42 CFR 418.113(b)(6)(ii))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a communications plan that identified primary and alternate means for communication with staff and authorities. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Homebound HHA/Hospice Inform EP Officials (42 CFR 418.113(b)(2))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice’s plan for providing patient care and clinical support did not include policies and procedures for informing state and local emergency officials about patients in need of evacuation. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Policies/Procedures-Volunteers and Staffing (42 CFR 418.113(b)(4))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a staffing plan to address the management of all staff and volunteers. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not develop a staffing plan for managing all staff and volunteers based on the settings and services provided to meet patient care needs during an emergency. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Arrangement with Other Facilities (42 CFR 418.113(b)(5))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice’s plan for providing patient care and clinical support did not include written procedures and arrangements with other health care providers for how it would share patient information and documentation and provide transportation. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Names and Contact Information (42 CFR 418.113(c)(1)(i))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. In the absence of an emergency operations plan, the hospice did not have a contact list of individuals and entities to be notified in response to an emergency or disaster incident. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Methods for Sharing Information (42 CFR 418.113(c)(4))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a communications plan that included a method for sharing location information and medical documentation for patients. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Information on Occupancy/Needs (42 CFR 418.113(c)(7))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a communications plan that described how it would communicate with and report information about its needs, available occupancy, and ability to provide assistance to relevant authorities. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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EP Training and Testing (42 CFR 418.113(d))
The inspectors’ words, 94 words
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not have a written education and training program in emergency management based on the prioritized risks identified in the hazard vulnerability analysis, the emergency operations plan, communication plans, and policies and procedures. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not describe in writing a plan for when and how it will conduct annual testing of its emergency operations plan. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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EP Training Program (42 CFR 418.113(d)(1)(i))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not provide initial education and training in emergency management to all new and existing staff, contract staff, and volunteers consistent with their roles and responsibilities in an emergency. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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EP Training Program (42 CFR 418.113(d)(1)(iii))
“Observed in Emergency Management Session. The hospice did not provide ongoing education and training to all staff, contract staff, and volunteers consistent with their roles and responsibilities in an emergency. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Notice of rights and responsibilities (42 CFR 418.52(a)(1))
“Observed in Record Review. In 2 of 14 patient records reviewed, the hospice did not inform the patient of their rights prior to beginning care. In records RRHV#1, RRHV#2 the payment section was blank on consent forms. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. the hospice did not inform the patient of their rights prior to beginning care. In records RRHV#1, RRHV#2 the payment section was blank on consent forms. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Update of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(d))
“Observed in Record Review. In 10 of 10 active patient records reviewed, interdisciplinary meeting notes did not include comprehensive assessments that documented decline, plan of care revisions, and goals. Nursing, spiritual care and psychosocial notes consistently did not identify changes that had occurred, and most goals were to be completed in two weeks. Only four of 150 goals written in ten records were resolved. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(5))
“Observed in Patient Home. In 3 of 3 home visits conducted, the hospice failed to coordinate care and services. For example, plans of care in hospice binders in assisted living facilities at RRHV#1 and RRHV#2 were dated more than 14 days before this survey date which resulted in facility staff not having current plans of care as required by their policy. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
The inspectors’ words, 174 words
“Observed in Patient Home. In 2 of 3 home visits conducted, the hospice did not implement infection prevention activities. For example, at patient visit RRHV#1 a home health aide cleaned equipment with disinfecting wipes by applying the solution to all surfaces of each item and placing it on a barrier to dry. A licensed al nurse cleaned equipment the same way at patient visit RRHV#2. The manufacturer’s instructions for use requiring four minutes dwell time for disinfection were not followed. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Patient Home. In 1 of 3 home visits conducted, hospice staff failed to perform hand hygiene according to policy. At visit RRHV#1 a home health aide cleansed her hands several times throughout the visit. During one of those times, she applied hand sanitizer gel but did not continue to rub her hands until dry. Rather, she briefly waved her hands in the air to accelerate drying. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Control (42 CFR 418.60(b)(2)(i))
“Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. The hospice failed to identify infection risks based on its geographic location, community, and population served, as well as the care, treatment, or services it provides over the last three years. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Control (42 CFR 418.60(b)(2)(ii))
The inspectors’ words, 213 words
“Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. In the absence of an infection control plan there were no goals for limiting unprotected exposure to pathogens. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. In the absence of an infection control plan there were no goals for limiting the spread of infections associated with procedures. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. In the absence of a prioritized risk assessment there were no goals for improving risks. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. In the absence of an infection control plan there were no goals for improving compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Note that hand hygiene practices were observed for all staff in 2023 with one hundred percent compliance. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services. Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. In the absence of an infection control plan there were no goals for limiting the spread of infections associated with the use of medical equipment, devices, and supplies. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Initial certification of terminal illness (42 CFR 418.102(b))
“Observed in Record Review. In 4 of 10 active patient records reviewed, the hospice did not ensure that all disciplines collaborated in the care of the patient. For example, in record5 RRHV#1, RRNHV#2, RRNHV#4, RRNHV#5 the attending physician did not sign the initial certificate of terminal illness as required in policy 2-026 entitled Certificate of Terminal Illness. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Recertification of the terminal illness (42 CFR 418.102(c))
“Observed in Record Review. In 6 of 10 active patient records reviewed, the hospice did not ensure that the medical director signed subsequent certificates of terminal illness within two days of the new benefit period as required in policy 2-026 entitled Certificate of Terminal Illness. For example, documents were not signed until five to 22 days after the start of the benefit period in records RRHV#1, RRHV#2, RRHV#3, RRNHV#1, RRNHV#2, and RRNHV#3. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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Use and mintenance of equipment and supplies (42 CFR 418.106(f)(2))
“Observed in Patient Home. In 10 of 10 active patient records reviewed, the hospice did not provide information on procedures to follow if care, treatment, or services were disrupted by a natural disaster or emergency. No individualized emergency plans providing patient specific information gathered during assessments and re-assessments were found in RRHV#1, RRHV#2, RRHV#3, RRNHV#1, RRNHV#2, RRNHV#3, RRNHV#4, RRNHV#5, RRNHV#6, or RRNHV#7. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
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N/a (42 CFR 418.110(j))
“Observed in Infection Control System Tracer. The hospice failed to maintain an infection control program for the protection of patients, families, visitors, and staff. The program was not described in writing and was not an integral part of its QAPI program. This RFI was reviewed with the Administrator and Director of Patient Care Services.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2024 | Follow-up inspection by The Joint Commission | No deficiencies cited |
| Mar 7, 2024 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 28 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Nov 23, 2011.
- Ownership: for-profit.
- Cited at 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. in the last three years: it didn’t meet a whole condition of Medicare’s rules.
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, 4% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 86.8% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 47% at home, 44% in assisted living, 9% in a skilled 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 | 4% |
| Visits near death | 86.8% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 11 owners or officers are people: Bader Iqbal (owns 5% or more directly, 50%); Bader Iqbal (managing employee (on the payroll), 50%); Eugenia Sotomayor (owns 5% or more directly, 50%); Eugenia Sotomayor (corporate officer, 50%); Eugenia Sotomayor (managing employee (on the payroll), 50%); Bader Iqbal (corporate officer, 35%); Bader Iqbal (corporate director, 35%); Eugenia Sotomayor (corporate director); Patricia L Haydostian (managing employee (on the payroll)); Carmen Sotomayor (corporate officer); Carmen Sotomayor (corporate director).
- 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?
- CMS gives no family caregiver survey rating: “The number of cases is too small to report Star Ratings.”
- In CMS’s survey of family caregivers (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 95% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 86% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 100% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 22.2% 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 | Not rated |
| 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 | 9 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 62 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 91301, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 28.
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 |
|---|---|
| South Valley Hospice Services, Inc. This hospice | 28 |
| Unique Care Los Angeles Hospice, Inc. | Not given |
| Mindbody Hospice, Inc. | Not given |
| Healing Halo Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. | Not given |
| Affinity Healthcare Resources | 5 |
| Open Heart Hospice, Inc. | Not given |
| Us Hospice Co | 5 |
| Exclusive Hospice Care, Inc. | 2 |
| Malibu Hospice, Inc. | Not given |
| Providence at Home With Compassus Hospice Care La County | 5 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital Valley Continuing Care | 10 |
| Assisted Home Hospice | 2 |
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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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 Nov 5, 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.