Bear Valley Hospice LLC
A hospice in Big Bear City, California 92314
909 W Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear City, California 92314. (909) 281-2550.
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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
- 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 mean2
- 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 21 hospices serving ZIP code 92314 had 5.
The last inspection on record was on Jul 17, 2025: 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 Jul 2025. 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.
Jul 17, 2025: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission6 deficiencies
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(3))
The inspectors’ words, 155 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 4 out of 10 active patient records reviewed, the organization failed to update the patient’s plan of care. On RRHV #1, it was noted during the home visit that the patient was on 5L of oxygen with orders that oxygen at 2L but may titrate to 5L but the plan of care had not been updated to reflect that patient is no using 5L. RRNHV#3, the Hospice Nurse Surveyor observed the plan of care had not been updated to include goals or interventions for decreased nutrition that was documented in the last nursing assessment. On review of RRNHV #5, patient is bedbound with type 2 Diabetes but there are no goals related to each of these problems. On RRNHV #7 it was noted that patient has problems of falls, pain and decreased nutrition with no goals on the Plan of Care. This was discussed and reviewed with administrator and DCPS.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
The inspectors’ words, 98 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 2 of 10 active patient records reviewed, the hospice nurse surveyor noted medication orders were not clear and accurate. On RRHV # 3 the physician’s orders in the plan of care documented docusate and Fleet enema both PRN for no Bowel movement in 3 days; however, there was no indication how to handle the duplicate therapy. On RRNHV #2, the physician’s orders in the plan of care documented lidocaine patch and hydrocodone-acetaminophen both PRN for Pain with no indication how to handle the duplicate therapy. This was discussed with the Administrator and DCPS.”
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Competency evaluation (42 CFR 418.76(c)(5))
“Observed in HR File Review. In 1 of 7 HR files reviewed, ongoing competency was not completed. Agency policy is that competency will be completed once every three years. On HR #6, it was noted that there was no competency assessment completed in the last three years. This finding was reviewed with the administrator and DCPS.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 96 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 1 out of 10 active charts reviewed, the Aide Care Plan did not have specific instructions for the aide. On RRHV #3, the assigned tasks did not include specific instructions for care of the patient. For example, the delegation states for the aide to assist with standby bathroom needs however the patient is incontinent and aide is placing brief and pads on the patient during the aide visit to address the incontinence and this is not reflected on the aide plan of care. This finding was reviewed with Administrator and DCPS.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(3))
“Observed in HR File Review. In 1 of 3 HR Files reviewed of employees who were hired in the last three year, the organization had not assessed and documented completion of an initial competency on hire. In HR #4, there was no documented competency completed as part of orientation for the MSW. This was reviewed with the Administrator and DCPS.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(2)(i))
“Observed in Record Review. In 1 of 2 discharged patient records reviewed where patient discharged from service, a discharge summary for care and treatment was not sent to the provider or a notification given that it was available. On review of RRDC #2, the discharge summary was created by the clinician but it was not sent to physician or notification of it’s availability. This was reviewed and validated with the Administrator and DCPS.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2025 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 6 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Aug 25, 2015.
- Ownership: for-profit.
- 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): 14.6 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 12.9% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 100% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 93% at home, 7% 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 | 14.6 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 12.9% |
| Visits near death | 100.0% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 9 owners or officers are people: Christian C Stewart (owns 5% or more directly, 25%); Christian C Stewart (corporate director, 25%); Cary C Stewart (owns 5% or more directly, 25%); Cary C Stewart (corporate director, 25%); Cary C Stewart (managing employee (on the payroll), 25%); Spencer T Stewart (owns 5% or more directly, 25%); Spencer T Stewart (corporate director, 25%); Katherine K Stewart (owns 5% or more directly, 25%); Katherine K Stewart (corporate director, 25%).
- 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.”
- 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); 96.8% 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 21 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 92314, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 5; 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 |
|---|---|
| Bear Valley Hospice LLC This hospice | 6 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice | 4 |
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California | 4 |
| Inland Valley Hospice Care | 2 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Hospice | 3 |
| Bright Haven Hospice | 1 |
| Bonum Hospice Services | 2 |
| Tranquil Oaks Hospice Care | 8 |
| Hospice Care Providers Inc. | 11 |
| Reliance Hospice, Inc. | 6 |
| Wings of Hope Hospice, Inc. | 10 |
| Physicians Preferred Hospice Inc. | 25 |
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.