Hospice Specialty Inc.
A hospice in Laredo, Texas 78040
1220 Scott Street, Laredo, Texas 78040. (956) 722-0106.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 4 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- Not rated family caregiver rating
- 7of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean3
- 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.
- Condition-level deficiency
- 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.
What did inspectors find?
4 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 20 hospices serving ZIP code 78040 had 4.
The last inspection on record was on Jan 16, 2025: a follow-up inspection by The Joint Commission.
1 deficiency at condition level, the more serious of CMS’s two levels
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 Dec 2024. Most serious: Condition-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.
Dec 5, 2024: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission4 deficiencies
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Initial certification of terminal illness (42 CFR 418.102(b))
The inspectors’ words, 139 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 10 of 14 patient records reviewed, For hospices that elect to use The Joint Commission deemed status option: The medical director, physician member of the interdisciplinary team, or physician designee reviews the clinical information for each hospice patient and provides written certification that the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
Note: The determination of the patient’s life expectancy considers the following factors:
- The primary terminal condition 
- Related diagnoses, if any 
- Current subjective and objective medical findings 
- Current medication and treatment orders 
- Information about the medical management of the patient’s conditions unrelated to the terminal condition
During review of records 1-10 it was noted that there was no certification of terminal illness signed and dated by the physician. This was confirmed by the Administrator.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 104 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 3 of 14 patient records reviewed, The organization did not provide the patient with care, treatment, or services according to the patient’s individualized plan of care. During review of records 2, 3, and 4 it was noted that physician orders for frequency did not match visits provided. For example in record 2 nursing was ordered 2-3 times per week but was provided once per week in a one week period and in record 3 nursing was ordered 2-3 times per week and was provided 1 x per week for a five week period. This was confirmed by the administrator.”
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
“Observed in Individual Tracer. The organization did not implement the infection prevention and control activities it has planned. During home visit 3 the LVN was observed to not cleanse his hands appropriately between patient care steps. For example he did not cleanse his hands after picking up the trash bag and before donning new gloves before beginning the dressing change. This was confirmed by the Administrator.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(2)(ii))
The inspectors’ words, 121 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 5 of 14 patient records reviewed, The hospice aide did not provide services that are ordered by the physician or allowed practitioner in the plan of care, consistent with the aide’s training, and that the aide is permitted to perform under state law. During review of records 1, 2, 3,4, 9, it was noted that the aide did not follow the plan of care created by the RN. For example in record 1 the aide plan required peri care, ambulation and assist with transfer but these were not documented, and in record 2 the aide documented skin care and shampoo but these tasks were not on the plan of care. This was confirmed by the Administrator.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2025 | Follow-up inspection by The Joint Commission | No deficiencies cited |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 4 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Jan 26, 2015.
- Ownership: for-profit.
- Cited at 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. in the last three years: it didn’t meet a whole condition of Medicare’s rules.
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): 8.9 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 3.3% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 87.1% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 100% at home.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 8.9 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 3.3% |
| Visits near death | 87.1% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 13 owners or officers are people: Anna Liza Guajardo (runs it (operational or managerial control), 50%); Patricia Guajardo (runs it (operational or managerial control), 50%); Patricia Guajardo (owns 5% or more directly, 34%); Patricia Guajardo (corporate officer, 34%); Patricia Guajardo (corporate director, 34%); Patricia Guajardo (managing employee (on the payroll), 34%); Anna Liza Guajardo (owns 5% or more directly, 33%); Anna Liza Guajardo (corporate officer, 33%); Anna Liza Guajardo (corporate director, 33%); Anna Liza Guajardo (managing employee (on the payroll), 33%); Maria Guajardo (owns 5% or more directly, 33%); Maria Guajardo (corporate officer, 33%); Maria Guajardo (managing employee (on the payroll), 33%).
- 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: 7 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 17.4% 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 | 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 | 7 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 20 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 78040, 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 |
|---|---|
| Hospice Specialty Inc. This hospice | 4 |
| Altus Hospice | 15 |
| Serenity Home Care Services | 7 |
| Laredo Gentle Hands Hospice and Palliative Care | 0 |
| La Esperanza Home Health Inc. | 4 |
| Vara Hospice | 3 |
| Laredo Superior Homecare LLC | 4 |
| Alfa Home Health and Hospice, LLC | 9 |
| Nurses on Wheels Home Health and Hospice | 0 |
| Greater Valley Hospice Alliance, LP | 15 |
| Altus Hospice | 9 |
| River City Hospice & Palliative Care | 3 |
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.