Community Hospice
A hospice in Ashland, Kentucky 41101
1480 Carter Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101. (606) 329-1890.
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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.
- 4 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 5of 5 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
- 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?
4 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 3 hospices serving ZIP code 41101 had 4.
The last inspection on record was on Mar 20, 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
4 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Mar 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.
Mar 20, 2026: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission4 deficiencies
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
The inspectors’ words, 102 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 1 of 19 active patient records reviewed, it was noted the organization failed to ensure that the hospice plan of care plan includes all services needed for the palliation and management of the terminal illness and related conditions, including treatment necessary to meet the patient’s needs. For example, upon review of the record for HOSInpatient#2, there was an order for the nurse to perform straight catheterization as needed and to perform pharyngeal suctioning as needed; however, no specific reason or indication for these interventions provided. This finding was discussed and validated by the hospice leadership team, .”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 121 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 1 of 19 active patient records reviewed, it was noted the organization had failed to provide the patient with care or treatment according to the hospice plan of care. For example, in review of record for HOSRRHV#5, the patient was admitted to hospice with Mediport inplace. The clinical record indicated a physician order to flush the patient’s Mediport with saline and heparin q month. Review of the visit notes revealed that it had been 33 days since the Mediport was flushed last (hospice benefit #6). There was no documentation explaining the delay or evidence that the physician was notified. This finding was discussed and validated by the hospice leadership team, q month means every 30 days.”
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N/a (42 CFR 418.110(d)(1)(i))
The inspectors’ words, 164 words
“Observed in Building Tour. The outdoor path of egress from the exit located next to patient room 103 did not have a continuous hard surface to the public right of way. The path required crossing a significant stretch of lawn which, at the time of the survey, was wet and muddy. All other paths of egress from the building had the required paving. This was verified by the Director of Facilities. This finding was observed during survey activity, but corrected onsite prior to the surveyor’s departure. The corrective action taken needs to be included in the organization’s Evidence of Standards Compliance submission. Observed in Building Tour. In the Service Corridor HVAC closet there was paint on the diffuser of the sprinkler head in the closet. This was verified by the Director of Facilities. This finding was observed during survey activity, but corrected onsite prior to the surveyor’s departure. The corrective action taken needs to be included in the organization’s Evidence of Standards Compliance submission.”
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N/a (42 CFR 418.110(e))
“Observed in Building Tour. In the bulk oxygen enclosure the oxygen backup manifold system with eight H O2 tanks was not protected from the elements by a covering. This was verified by the Director of Facilities. Observed in Building Tour. At the bulk oxygen tank the required sign indicating the location of the main shut off valve was not present. This was verified by the Director of Facilities.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2026 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 4 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Nov 1, 1983.
- Ownership: non-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, 8.4% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 92.3% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 67% at home, 8% in assisted living, 21% in a nursing facility, 4% in an inpatient hospice.
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 | 8.4% |
| Visits near death | 92.3% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Community Hospice, Inc. runs it.
- 23 owners or officers are people: Laurie B. Stewart (corporate director); Thomas Burnette (corporate officer); Thomas Burnette (corporate director); Bill J. Pinson (corporate director); Jackie R Kazee (managing employee (under contract)); Stanley G. Vanderpool (corporate director); Andrew Wheeler (corporate director); Charlotte Horn (corporate officer); Charlotte Horn (managing employee (on the payroll)); Thuy N Nguyen (corporate director); Sandy Zerkle (managing employee (on the payroll)); Lori Cooksey (corporate director); Shadow L. Skaggs (corporate director); John R. Hammond (corporate officer); John R. Hammond (corporate director); Jason A Suman (corporate director); Rodney N. Hieneman (corporate officer); Rodney N. Hieneman (managing employee (on the payroll)); Kathy L Elam (corporate officer); Kathy L Elam (corporate director); Matthew B. Perkins (corporate director); Lori B. Ison (managing employee (on the payroll)); Brent Brown (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.
| Organisation | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Hospice, Inc. | Runs it (operational or managerial control) | 100% | May 17, 1979 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 5 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 87% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 92% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 93.09% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 51.4% 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 | 5 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 | 9 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 3 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 41101, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 4; this one had 4.
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 |
|---|---|
| Community Hospice This hospice | 4 |
| Community Hospice of Southern Ohio | 5 |
| Hospice of Huntington | 1 |
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.