Suncrest Hospice
A hospice in Knoxville, Tennessee 37909
1225 E. Weisgarber Road, Suite 380s, Knoxville, Tennessee 37909. (865) 925-5500.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 4 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 3of 5 family caregiver rating
- 10of 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 8 hospices serving ZIP code 37909 had 5.
The last inspection on record was on Mar 9, 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
4 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Feb 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.
Feb 11, 2026: recertification inspection by the state4 deficiencies
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 203 words
“Based on agency policy, record review, and interview, the agency failed to follow the plan of care (POC) related to visit frequency for 1 Patient (3) of 14 sampled patients. The findings include: Review of the agency policy titled, “Plan of Care,” revealed 10/1/2024 showed “...The plan of care must include all services necessary for the palliation and management of terminal illness and related conditions, including...frequency of services necessary to meet the specific patient and family needs...” Review of the medical record revealed Patient #3 was admitted to the agency with diagnoses including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Review of the Hospice Recertification Plan of Care for Patient #3 for recertification period 12/26/2025-2/23/2026 showed orders for visit frequency for “SN [Skilled Nurse]...2 WK [week] 2...HHA [Hospice Aide] 2 WK 8...CH [Chaplain] 2 M [month] 2...” Review of Patient #3’s visit calendar (calendar that documents all disciplines scheduled to provide services) showed 1 completed SN visit for the week of 12/28/2025 and 1/4/2026 for Patient #3. During an interview on 2/11/2026 at 10:05 AM, the Executive Director and Patient Care Manager confirmed the agency had not followed the plan of care for Patient #3’s visit frequency of twice weekly on weeks 12/28/2025 and 1/4/2026.”
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Cost saving (42 CFR 418.78(d))
The inspectors’ words, 143 words
“Based on agency policy review, agency documentation, and interview, the agency failed to document cost savings achieved by using volunteer services. The findings include:Review of the agency’s policy titled “SERVICES PROVIDED”, dated 9/13/11, revealed “...the hospice program and its patients and families benefit from the cost savings achieved through the use of volunteers, the hospice shall assure that...estimates of the dollar costs which the hospice would have incurred if paid employees had been used in the volunteers position for the same amount of time...shall maintain documentation to support the cost savings achieved through the use of volunteers...” Review of the agency cost savings report for year 2025 and 2026 revealed the cost savings report had not been completed. During an interview on 2/11/2026 at 10:10 AM, the Executive Director confirmed the agency had not documented the cost savings achieved by using volunteer services.”
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Level of activity (42 CFR 418.78(e))
“Based on agency documentation and interview, the agency failed to ensure volunteer service hours equaled 5% (percent) of total patient care hours. The findings include:Review of percentage of volunteer staff was 0.58% (percentage). At this time the interim volunteer coordinator is the agency’s social worker.During an interview on 2/11/2026 at 11:00 AM, the Executive Director confirmed the volunteer staff percentage was 0.58%. She stated that the percentage in January 2025 was 5% and since that time had 3 volunteer managers.”
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Criminal background checks (42 CFR 418.114(d)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 247 words
“Based on employee record review, agency policy review, and interview, the agency failed to maintain a complete employee record which included the criminal background check results, failed to ensure the Tennessee abuse registry results were maintained in accordance with state and federal regulations and failed to provide reference checks for 2 employees (Employee A and B) of 7 employee personnel records reviewed. The findings include: Review of the personnel record for Employee A revealed the employee was hired on 12/15/2025, as a Nurse Practitioner. Further review of the record revealed the agency provided redacted documentation related to the criminal background check, Tennessee abuse registry, and reference check results were unable to be verified. Review of the personnel record for Employee B revealed the employee was hired on 1/19/2026 as a Hospice Aide. Further review of the record revealed the agency provided redacted documentation related to the criminal background check, Tennessee abuse registry, and reference check results were unable to be verified. During an interview on 2/11/2026 at 11:40 AM, the Business Office Manager (BOM) and Executive Director (ED) stated the agency Corporate Human Resources department kept personnel records at the home office and would not provide the unredacted employee requested documentation as this is a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation. The BOM and ED confirmed the employee information provided had been redacted and the results of the criminal background check, Tennessee abuse registry and reference results were not legible and unable to be verified.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 | Recertification inspection by the state | No deficiencies cited |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Recertification inspection by the state | 4 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since May 16, 1995.
- 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): 13.2 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 9.5% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 97.5% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 74% at home, 6% in assisted living, 3% in a nursing facility, 13% in a skilled nursing facility, 1% in a hospital, 3% elsewhere.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 13.2 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 9.5% |
| Visits near death | 97.5% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- AFAM Holding Co VII, LLC owns 100% directly since Aug 30, 2024.
- 3 owners or officers are people: Kimberly Seymour (corporate officer); Stacie Moore (managing employee (on the payroll)); Joshua Lee Proffitt (corporate officer).
- 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 |
| AFAM Holding Co VII, LLC | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Aug 30, 2024 |
| LHC Group Inc. | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Apr 1, 2018 |
| Almost Family, Inc. | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Dec 31, 2016 |
| National Health Industries, Inc. | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 80% | Dec 31, 2016 |
| Afam Sub I LLC | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 20% | Aug 30, 2024 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 3 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 77% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 79% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 10 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 99.71% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 74% 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 | 3 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 | 10 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 8 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 37909, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 5; 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 |
|---|---|
| Covenant Hospice | 6 |
| Suncrest Hospice This hospice | 4 |
| Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company | 7 |
| University of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN | 0 |
| Caris Healthcare | 6 |
| Shalom Hospice of Greater Knoxville LLC | 0 |
| Gentiva | 20 |
| Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice, I N C | 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.