Des Moines Senior AdvisorThere are 12 Medicare-certified hospices based in Des Moines and Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties. Medicare publishes a Hospice Care Index score for 9 of them and family caregiver survey stars for 8. 8 score a full 10 out of 10 on the index; the Iowa average is 9.5.
Which hospices in Des Moines score highest with Medicare?
The table lists every hospice, highest index score first. A linked name opens the full record: each index indicator against the state and national averages, the family survey answers, where care is delivered and the ZIP codes served.
| Hospice | Hospice Care Index | Family caregiver survey | Patients per day | Certified since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suncrest Hospice, LLC West Des Moines, IA 50266 · (515) 327-6026 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 303 | 2015 |
| Everystep Des Moines, IA 50317 · (515) 274-3400 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 172 | 1983 |
| Hospice of the Midwest, LLC Johnston, IA 50131 · (515) 218-2143 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 135 | 2016 |
| Unitypoint Hospice Urbandale, IA 50322 · (515) 557-3100 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 114 | 1996 |
| St Croix Hospice Ankeny, IA 50021 · (515) 276-2700 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 113 | 2007 |
| Wesleylife Hospice Urbandale, IA 50322 · (515) 271-6777 | 10 / 10 | ★★★★☆4 / 5 | 106 | 2007 |
| Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines West Des Moines, IA 50266 · (515) 223-3813 | 10 / 10 | ★★★☆☆3 / 5 | 49 | 2009 |
| Mercyone Des Moines Hospice Des Moines, IA 50319 · (515) 643-8383 | 10 / 10 | ★★★☆☆3 / 5 | 35 | 1986 |
| Gentiva Panora, IA 50216 · (515) 276-6696 | 9 / 10 | No rating published | 17 | 2005 |
| Moments Hospice of Des Moines LLC Hiawatha, IA 50266 · (515) 316-6400 | Not published | No rating published | 3 | 2020 |
| Affinity Care of Iowa LLC West Des Moines, IA 50266 · (515) 304-3344 | Not published | No rating published | — | 2025 |
| Compassus Central Iowa Ankeny, IA 50021 · (515) 304-4634 | Not published | No rating published | — | 2025 |
What does the Hospice Care Index measure, and what does it not?
The Hospice Care Index is a score out of 10 that counts how many of ten Medicare claims-based indicators a hospice meets. It measures patterns of visits and discharges. It does not measure bedside manner, and it is not a patient satisfaction score.
| Hospice Care Index | Family caregiver survey | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Medicare billing claims over two years | A survey mailed to the main family caregiver after a death |
| What it shows | How often nurses visit, weekend care, visits near death, and patterns of live discharge | Communication, timely help, respect, symptom control and whether families would recommend the hospice |
| What it misses | How families felt about the care | Small hospices, which often have too few responses to report |
Does Medicare pay for hospice care in Iowa?
Yes. Medicare covers hospice for people a doctor certifies as terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less who choose comfort care. It covers the nurse, aide, social worker and chaplain visits, medications for the terminal illness, and equipment, with at most a small copay for prescriptions and respite stays. It does not cover room and board in assisted living or a nursing home.
Why do so many Des Moines hospices have no published scores?
3 of the 12 hospices here have no index score. Medicare only publishes results once a hospice has enough claims in the two-year window, and Des Moines and Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties has many recently certified, small hospices. A missing score tells you a hospice is new or small. It does not tell you whether it is good.
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
How many Medicare-certified hospices are in Des Moines?
12 are based in Des Moines and Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties. 9 have a published Hospice Care Index score.
What is a good Hospice Care Index score?
The index runs from 0 to 10. The Iowa average is 9.5, and 8 hospices in Des Moines and Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties score a full 10.
Can a hospice patient stay in assisted living?
Yes. Hospice staff visit wherever the patient lives, including assisted living and memory care. Medicare pays for the hospice care but not for the room and board.
