Heart of Hospice
A hospice in Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
3101 Lake St., Ste 101, Ste 101, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601. (337) 855-5154.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 1 deficiency cited in the last three years
- 4of 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?
1 deficiency cited in the last three years
The middle of the 12 hospices serving ZIP code 70601 had 1.5.
The last inspection on record was on Jul 6, 2026: a recertification inspection by the state.
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
1 deficiency in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jun 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.
Jun 24, 2026: recertification inspection by the state1 deficiency
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Plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(b))
The inspectors’ words, 607 words
“Based on record review and interview, the agency failed to ensure the patient’s written individualized POC (plan of care) was followed as evidenced by the agency failing to ensure the SN (Skilled Nurse) followed the POC for visits as ordered for 3 (#5, #9, and #14) out of 19 sampled patients. 3. Patient #14Review of the patient’s electronic clinical records revealed the start of care date was 4/06/2026. The patient’s admitting diagnosis included Malignant Neoplasm of Unspecified main Bronchus. The benefit period reviewed was 06/05/2026 to 08/03/2026.Review of the patient’s POC for benefit period for 06/05/2026 to 08/03/2026 revealed an order for SN effective 06/05/2026 2every2wk2, 2wk7, 7 prn visits for urgent symptom management (skilled nurse visits effective 06/05/2026 two visits every two weeks for two weeks, two visits a week for seven weeks, seven skilled nurse visits as needed for urgent symptom management). Review of the patient’s SN visit notes for the week of 06/05/2026 revealed no SN visits. Review of the patient’s SN visit notes for the week of 06/07/2026 revealed 1 SN visit was made. Review of the patient’s SN visit notes for the week of 06/14/2026 revealed 1 SN visit was made. On 06/24/2026 at 10:30 a.m., an interview was conducted with S1ED after she reviewed the patient’s electronic clinical record. She confirmed that the SN visit orders were not followed per the patient’s POC for the benefit period dated 06/05/2026 to 08/03/2026. Findings: 1. Patient #5. Review of the patient’s electronic clinical record revealed the start of care date was 10/18/2024. The patient’s admitting diagnoses included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia. The benefit period reviewed was 06/10/2026 to 08/08/2026. Review of the patient’s POC for benefit period 06/10/2026 to 08/08/2026 revealed an order for SN effective 06/10/2026 1wk9, 4 prn visits for urgent symptom management (skilled nurse visits effective 06/10/2026 one time a week for nine weeks, and four skilled nurse visits as needed for urgent symptom management). Review of the patient’s SN visit notes for the week of 06/10/2026 revealed no evidence that a skilled nurse visit was made for that week as ordered. On 06/23/2026 at 10:30 a.m., an interview was conducted with S1ED (Executive Director) after she reviewed the patient’s electronic clinical record. Also, at this time, a telephone interview was conducted with S2QC (Quality Coordinator). Both confirmed that a SN visit was not made as ordered for the week of 06/10/2026 per the patient’s POC for the benefit period dated 06/10/2026 to 08/08/2026. 2. Patient #9. Review of the patient’s electronic clinical record revealed the start of care date was 09/09/2025. The patient’s admitting diagnosis included congestive heart failure. The benefit period reviewed was 06/06/2026 to 08/04/2026. Review of the patient’s POC for benefit period 06/06/2026 to 08/04/2026 revealed an order for SN effective 06/06/2026 2every2wk2, 2wk7, 1wk1, 3 prn visits for urgent symptom management (skilled nurse visits effective 06/06/2026 two visits every two weeks for two weeks, two visits a week for seven weeks, one visit a week for one week, three skilled nurse visits as needed for urgent symptom management). Review of the patient’s SN visit notes for the week of 06/07/2026 and 06/14/2026 revealed that 2 skilled nurse visits were made for those weeks. There were no orders for SN visits for the week of 06/14/2026. On 06/23/2026 at 10:50 a.m., an interview was conducted with S1ED after she reviewed the patient’s electronic clinical record. Also, at this time, a telephone interview was conducted with S2QC (Quality Coordinator). Both confirmed that the SN visit orders were not followed per the patient’s POC for the benefit period dated 06/06/2026 to 08/04/2026.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 2026 | Recertification inspection by the state | No deficiencies cited |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Recertification inspection by the state | 1 deficiency cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Oct 17, 2007.
- 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): 9.2 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 8% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 96.5% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 74% at home, 6% in assisted living, 20% 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 | 9.2 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 8% |
| Visits near death | 96.5% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Louisiana Health CARE Group LLC owns 100% directly since Sep 1, 2021.
- 8 owners or officers are people: Kelly M Fuqua (managing employee (under contract), 0%); Courtney Guillory (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Kimberly Seymour (corporate officer, 0%); Kimberly Seymour (managing employee (on the payroll)); Joni Babineaux (corporate officer, 0%); Joshua Lee Proffitt (corporate officer); Daniel L Washington (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Amy Cormier (corporate director, 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.
| Organisation | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unitedhealth Group Incorporated | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Feb 22, 2023 |
| LHC Group Inc. | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Sep 1, 2021 |
| Louisiana Health CARE Group LLC | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Sep 1, 2021 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 87% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 88% 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); 63.1% 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 | 9 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 12 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 70601, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 1.5; this one had 1.
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 |
|---|---|
| Heart of Hospice This hospice | 1 |
| St Joseph Hospice of Southwest Louisiana, LLC | 3 |
| Amedisys Hospice | 1 |
| Harbor Hospice of Lake Charles, LP | 7 |
| Hospice of Acadiana Inc. | 17 |
| Hospice of Leesville | 1 |
| Heart of Hospice, LLC | 1 |
| Brighton Bridge | 0 |
| Premier Hospice | 2 |
| Bridgeway Healthcare and Hospice of Acadiana | 1 |
| Lamm Family Care Hospice | 9 |
| Allegiance Healthcare, LLC | 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.