Vara Hospice
A hospice in Laredo, Texas 78041
1520 E. San Pedro, Suite 102, Laredo, Texas 78041. (956) 285-4327.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare.
The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 3 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- Not rated family caregiver rating
- 9of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean2
- 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?
3 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 18 hospices serving ZIP code 78041 had 4.5.
The last inspection on record was on Jul 31, 2026: a complaint 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
3 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 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.
Jul 29, 2026: reaccreditation inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner3 deficiencies
-
Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
The inspectors’ words, 202 words
“It is required that each patient’s individualized written plan of care reflects patient and family goals and identifies planned interventions based on problems identified in the initial and updated comprehensive assessments. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review and interview. In 1 of 14 (7%) clinical records reviewed, the agency did not ensure the plan of care (POC) reflected patient and family goals and interventions based on problems identified in the initial and updated comprehensive assessments by the interdisciplinary group (IDG). CLINICAL RECORD 1: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 04/14/2026 with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction. The skilled nursing visit dated 07/28/2026 documented that the patient has a Foley catheter 16 fr and a PEG tube and is receiving Jevity 1.5 one box three times a day. The plan of care dated 07/13/2026 to 10/10/2026 did not have documented evidence of urinary or nutritional interventions. During an interview with the Director of Nurses (Personnel Record 1) on 07/28/2026, she stated, “I will update the patient’s plan of care to reflect all the problems. I will also educate the clinical staff to be sure that all the patient’s problems are addressed in the patient’s plan of care.””
-
Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(2)(i))
The inspectors’ words, 172 words
“It is required that a hospice aide provides services ordered by the Interdisciplinary Group. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review and interview. In 1 of 11 (9%) clinical record reviews of patients who elected hospice aide services, the agency did not ensure the hospice aide provided services as ordered by the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG). CLINICAL RECORD 5: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 11/22/2025. The Hospice plan of care dated 05/10/2026 to 07/08/2026 ordered the hospice aide frequency of 2 x weekly. In June 2026, the aide documented visits on the following dates: 06/02/2026, 06/03/2026, 06/05/2026, 06/08/2026, 06/09/2026, 06/12/2026, 06/17/2026, 06/18/2026, 06/19/2026, 06/23/2026, 06/25/2026, 06/26/2026, 06/30/2026, 07/02/2026, and 07/03/2026, which is a frequency of 3 times a week. The clinical record did not have documented evidence of a change in the aide frequency. During an interview with the Director of Nurses (Personnel Record 1) on 07/29/2026, she stated, “I will write a clarification order and provide education to clinical staff to update the frequency with changes.””
-
Authentication (42 CFR 418.104(b))
The inspectors’ words, 168 words
“It is required that the hospice Interdisciplinary Group, in consultation with the individual’s attending physician (if any), completes an initial comprehensive assessment no later than five (5) calendar days after the election of hospice care, in accordance with CMS §418.24–the elements of the hospice care election statement. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review and interview. In 1 of 14 (7%) clinical records reviewed, the agency did not ensure that the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) completed an initial comprehensive assessment no later than five (5) calendar days after the election of hospice care. CLINICAL RECORD 8: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 05/23/2025 with a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell type. The initial spiritual assessment was completed on 05/21/2025, which is two days prior to admission. During an interview with the Director of Nurses (Personnel Record 1) on 07/28/2026, she stated that she believes the chaplain made an error when writing the date. Also stated that the agency would provide additional education.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2026 | Complaint inspection by the state | No deficiencies cited |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner | 3 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Oct 7, 2020.
- 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): 12.1 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 10.6% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 90.3% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 85% at home, 8% in assisted living, 2% in a skilled nursing facility, 5% in a hospital, 1% elsewhere.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 12.1 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 10.6% |
| Visits near death | 90.3% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 4 owners or officers are people: Jose Alvarado (owns 5% or more directly, 100%); Jose Alvarado (corporate director, 100%); Jose Alvarado (managing employee (on the payroll), 100%); Leonides G Cigarroa (managing employee (under contract), 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.
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: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 96.08% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 33.3% 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 | 9 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 18 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 78041, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 4.5; this one had 3.
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 |
|---|---|
| Altus Hospice | 15 |
| Serenity Home Care Services | 7 |
| Laredo Gentle Hands Hospice and Palliative Care | 0 |
| La Esperanza Home Health Inc. | 4 |
| Vara Hospice This hospice | 3 |
| Laredo Superior Homecare LLC | 4 |
| Alfa Home Health and Hospice, LLC | 9 |
| Optumcare Hospice LLC | 0 |
| Hospice Specialty Inc. | 4 |
| Nurses on Wheels Home Health and Hospice | 0 |
| Greater Valley Hospice Alliance, LP | 15 |
| Only Love Hospice | 8 |
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
-
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).
-
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).
-
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).
-
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).
-
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).
-
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).
-
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.