How to verify a hospice in California

Why check a hospice at all?

Most hospices are what they say they are. But state and federal agencies have found hospice fraud in California, much of it in Los Angeles County, and they now tell families to check a hospice before choosing one. California has paused new hospice licenses while it tightens oversight.

Checking is not an accusation. It is the same care you would take with any big decision. A sound hospice will be glad you looked, and will give you its identifiers without being asked twice.

What to ask the hospice for first

Ask for these five things. Every legitimate hospice has them and can tell you over the phone.

• The exact legal name of the company
• The Medicare provider number, called a CCN
• The National Provider Identifier, called an NPI
• The California hospice license number
• The street address of the office that would serve you

How do you check a hospice, step by step?

1. Step 1

   Look it up on Medicare Care Compare

   Go to Medicare Care Compare (opens in a new tab), choose Hospice care, and search by name or ZIP code. Check that the name and address match what you were told. Look at the date the hospice was certified by Medicare, the ownership type, and the quality measures and family survey results. A small or new hospice may show "not available" for some measures, which only means too few cases to report. Worked example: Beta's Care Compare profile (opens in a new tab) shows CCN A11527, certified in 2020, for-profit ownership. See our Medicare quality information on Care Compare.

2. Step 2

   Find the state license in CDPH Cal Health Find

   The California Department of Public Health licenses hospices. Open Cal Health Find (opens in a new tab), search the hospice name, and choose the hospice facility type. Check that the license is active, that the name and address match, and look at any complaints or state enforcement actions listed. Worked example: search "Beta Hospice Care" and match it to our license number, 550004949.

3. Step 3

   Match the NPI

   Open the NPI Registry (opens in a new tab) and search by the NPI number or the organization name. The legal name, the practice address and the provider type (hospice) should match. Watch for hospices with nearly the same name at a different address. They are different companies. Worked example: NPI 1063983997 (opens in a new tab) shows Beta Hospice Care, Inc. at our San Bernardino office.

4. Step 4

   Check the HCAI facility finder

   California's Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) keeps a record for each licensed health facility and agency that reports to it. Search the name at hcai.ca.gov (opens in a new tab) and compare the address again. Worked example: Beta's HCAI record (opens in a new tab), HCAI ID 406361930.

5. Step 5

   Confirm accreditation on the accreditor's own site

   Accreditation is optional for hospices. If a hospice says it is accredited, do not rely on a logo. Go to the accrediting body's own website and use its search tool. The three national hospice accreditors are The Joint Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). Worked example: Beta is accredited by ACHC as Beta Hospice Care, Inc. Search the ACHC accredited organization lookup (opens in a new tab) and match the name, address and hospice scope.

6. Step 6

   Make sure there is an office you can visit

   Look up the address on a map and, if you can, stop by during office hours. A working hospice has staff at its office, a sign, and a phone that a person answers. Be careful if many hospices share one small suite, or if the address is a mailbox store. Worked example: our one office is in San Bernardino, and you are welcome to visit during office hours. Details are on the contact page.

What each record tells you

If the name or address differs from one record to the next, ask the hospice why. There can be an innocent reason, such as a recent move, but you should get a clear answer.

What are the red flags for hospice fraud?

Any one of these is a reason to stop and check. Hospice is a medical benefit that starts with a doctor's certification, never with a sales pitch.

• Gifts, groceries, gift cards or cash offered for agreeing to hospice or for giving your information.
• Someone you did not contact shows up at your door, calls you, or approaches you at a community event or senior center to sign you up.
• A request for your Medicare or Medi-Cal number before a nurse or doctor has talked with you about your health.
• Pressure to sign today, or papers you are not given time to read.
• Being told hospice is a way to get extra help at home, housekeeping or equipment, when no doctor has said you have a terminal illness.
• Being told you cannot change your mind, or cannot keep your own doctor.
• A Medicare Summary Notice that shows hospice charges for someone who never chose hospice.

What to do if something seems wrong

Do not sign anything. Do not give out your Medicare number. Ask for the five identifiers listed above and check them. If you think you were put on hospice without agreeing to it, call 1-800-MEDICARE right away, because being on hospice changes what Medicare pays for.

Choosing hospice is your decision. You can stop hospice at any time and return to regular Medicare coverage. You have the right to choose your hospice. Read patient rights and how to file a complaint.

Once a hospice checks out

Verification tells you a hospice is real and in good standing. It does not tell you whether it is the right fit. For that, read how to choose a hospice, which has questions to ask about visits, after-hours calls and care in a crisis. Our own identifiers are all on the about page.

Common questions about checking a hospice