Peace Hospice of Montana
A hospice in Great Falls, Montana 59405
2600 15th Ave S, Great Falls, Montana 59405. (406) 455-3040.
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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
- 8of 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 4 hospices serving ZIP code 59405 had 3.
The last inspection on record was on Dec 5, 2024: 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
6 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Oct 2024. 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.
Oct 15, 2024: recertification inspection by the state5 deficiencies
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Means of Egress - General (42 CFR NFPA 101)
The inspectors’ words, 103 words
“Based on observation, the facility failed to keep the means of egress open to full and instant use in accordance with NFPA 101, 2012 Edition, Section 7.1.10.1, 7.1.10.2.1, 19.2.3.4(5). This deficiency affects 1 of 4 main floor smoke compartments. Findings include: 1. During an observation on 10/15/24 at 2:36 p.m., the main entrance corridor was inspected. There were several wheelchairs in the corridor, lined up from the sitting room to the main entrance. They reduced the corridor width to less than six feet, obstructing the path to an emergency exit. The unobstructed width of the corridor must not be less than 6 feet.”
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Hazardous Areas - Enclosure (42 CFR NFPA 101)
The inspectors’ words, 99 words
“Based on observation, the facility failed to assure hazardous rooms/areas had doors which were able to close, and latch in accordance with NFPA 101, 2012 Edition, Sections 19.3.2.1 and 19.3.2.1.3. These deficiencies affect 1 of 1 basement smoke compartment. Findings include: 1. During an observation on 10/15/24 at 3:19 p.m., the basement PH-10 store room was inspected. This room is greater than 50 square feet and is considered a hazardous area. The corridor door failed to close and latch because the inactive leaf would not also latch into the jamb to ensure the set of doors would not open.”
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Fire Alarm System - Initiation (42 CFR NFPA 101)
“Based on an observation, the facility failed to ensure accessibility to a manual fire alarm box in accordance with NFPA 101, 2012 Edition, Section 9.6.2.7 This deficiency affects 1 of 4 smoke compartments. Findings include: 1. During an observation on 10/15/24 at 3:25 p.m., the sitting area at the end of a corridor was inspected. There was a shelf of puzzles blocking the pull station from clear view.”
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Fire Drills (42 CFR NFPA 101)
“Based on record review, the facility failed to conduct fire drills for every shift in every quarter in accordance with NFPA 101, 2012 Edition, section 19.7.1.6. This deficiency affects all smoke compartments. Findings include: 1. During a review of facility fire drills on 10/15/24 at 1:30 p.m., it was determined the facility had not completed fire drills for the following shifts: -all shifts of the fourth quarter of 2023 -NOC shift of the first quarter of 2024 -day and NOC shifts of the third quarter of 2024”
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Electrical Systems - Maintenance and Testing (42 CFR NFPA 101)
The inspectors’ words, 103 words
“Based on record review, the facility failed to maintain the receptacles in patient areas in accordance with NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code, 2012 Edition, Section 6.3.4.1. The deficient practice affected all main floor smoke compartments. Findings include: Record review on 10/15/24 at 1:30 p.m. revealed there was no documentation that non-hospital grade receptacles located in resident rooms had annual retention testing as required by sections 6.3.4.1.2 and 6.3.4.1.3 in NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, 2012 Edition. In an email dated 10/18/24, staff member B stated the work had been completed but there was no documentation as proof of it being done.”
Oct 10, 2024: recertification inspection by the state1 deficiency
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
The inspectors’ words, 455 words
“Based on observation, interview, and record review, staff members C and D failed to adhere to accepted standards of practice for infection prevention related to the proper cleaning of equipment, after performing in home assessments for 2 (#’s 2 and 3) of 4 observed patient home visits. Findings include: During an observation of a home visit on 10/8/24 at 10:12 a.m., staff member C had performed a physical assessment of patient #2. Staff member C donned gloves to clean the vital sign equipment she had used for the assessment. Staff member C wiped down each piece of equipment, immediately placed the equipment into a plastic bag, then placed the plastic bag into her travel work bag. During an interview on 10/8/24 at 10:18 a.m., staff member C stated she used purple “Sani wipes” to clean her vital sign equipment (thermometer, pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope). Staff member C stated she did not know a timeframe the equipment needed to be wet or dry. During an observation on 10/8/24 at 2:12 p.m., staff member D had entered the home of patient #3, greeted the patient and placed her work bag onto the sofa without a barrier under the bag. Patient #3 had a small dog in the home and the dog was up on the sofa, greeting staff member D. During an observation on 10/8/24 at 2:23 p.m., staff member D performed her physical assessment, which included vital signs, then placed the used equipment onto a barrier sheet on the sofa. Staff member D continued the interview and assessment of patient #3. During an observation on 10/8/24 at 2:41 p.m., staff member D had completed her assessment of patient #3, picked up the barrier with used equipment off the sofa, and placed it into her work bag. No cleaning of the equipment took place in patient #3’s home. During an interview on 10/8/24 at 2:45 p.m., staff member D stated she had forgot to place a barrier under her work bag. Staff member D stated she cleaned her vital sign equipment in her vehicle, after she exited the home. During an interview on 10/9/24 at 1:48 p.m., staff member A stated it was not acceptable to pick up a barrier from a sofa with equipment on it and place it into a travel bag. She stated placing the used barrier cloth into a work bag would make the whole bag dirty. Staff member A stated equipment used in a home visit needs to be cleaned in the home. Review of the manufacturer’s label for purple “Super Sani Wipes,” on 10/9/24 at 1:45 p.m., showed, “Contact time: Use wipe to thoroughly wet surface. Allow surface to remain visibly wet for 2 minutes. Let air dry.””
All 3 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2024 | Recertification inspection by the state | No deficiencies cited |
| Oct 15, 2024 | Recertification inspection by the state | 5 deficiencies cited |
| Oct 10, 2024 | Recertification inspection by the state | 1 deficiency cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Aug 29, 1991.
- 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): 7.6 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 4.9% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 71.9% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 50% at home, 26% in assisted living, 3% in a nursing facility, 2% in a skilled nursing facility, 17% in an inpatient hospice, 2% elsewhere.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 7.6 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 4.9% |
| Visits near death | 71.9% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Benefis Health System, Inc. runs it.
- 25 owners or officers are people: Melchisedek Margaris (corporate director); Rayn M Ginnaty (corporate officer); Rayn M Ginnaty (corporate director); Rayn M Ginnaty (managing employee (on the payroll)); Bruce Houlihan (corporate officer); Bruce Houlihan (managing employee (on the payroll)); Amy Linder (managing employee (on the payroll)); John H Goodnow (corporate officer); John H Goodnow (managing employee (on the payroll)); Dustin R Stuart (corporate director); Phillip Richards (corporate director); Debra J Ammondson (corporate director); John E Venditti (corporate director); Daniel K Gordon (managing employee (under contract)); Daniel K Gordon (managing employee (on the payroll)); Llewelyn E Jones (corporate director); Jeffrey Macewen (corporate director); William E Ferrin (corporate officer); William E Ferrin (corporate director); Heather S Hoyer (corporate director); Gregory S Tierney (corporate director); Gregory S Tierney (managing employee (on the payroll)); Brian H Loucks (corporate officer); Brian H Loucks (corporate director); Latoya Reovan (managing employee (on the payroll)).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefis Health System, Inc. | Runs it (operational or managerial control) | 100% | Jul 16, 2008 |
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 90% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 8 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 90.86% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 16.1% 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 | 8 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 4 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 59405, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 3; 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 |
|---|---|
| Peace Hospice of Montana This hospice | 6 |
| Hospice of St Peters Comm Hosp | 3 |
| Stillwater Hospice | 3 |
| Logan Health Hospice | 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.