If you’re choosing a hospice in Orange County, you’ll probably end up on Medicare Care Compare. It’s the federal government’s free tool for comparing Medicare-certified providers. It’s also easy to misread. This guide explains what each number means, why most local hospices show “Not available,” and how to use the data when you talk to a hospice.
What Care Compare shows for a hospice
Each Medicare-certified hospice has a profile page with three kinds of information:
- Basic facts: address, phone, ownership type, the date it was first certified by Medicare, and its CMS Certification Number (CCN). The CCN is a six-digit ID that lets you confirm you’re looking at the right agency.
- Family caregiver survey (CAHPS Hospice Survey): results from a standard national survey mailed to family members after a patient’s death. It asks whether the team communicated well, treated the patient with respect, managed pain and symptoms, gave timely help and offered the right emotional and spiritual support. It also asks whether the family would recommend the hospice.
- Quality-of-care measures: measures built from Medicare claims and the hospice’s own records, including the Hospice Care Index (HCI).
The family survey: “would definitely recommend”
For most families, the single most useful number is the share of caregivers who say they would definitely recommend the hospice. “Probably” doesn’t count, so this is a demanding measure. CMS averages the results over a long window. The current release, published August 2026, covers surveys from October 2023 through September 2025. When you compare hospices, compare the same period.
The detailed questions are worth reading too. A hospice with a decent overall score but low marks for “help arrived in a timely way” tells you something specific to ask about.
Star ratings: why most Orange County hospices don’t have one
Care Compare also gives a family caregiver survey star rating of 1 to 5 stars, but only for hospices with enough completed surveys for CMS to calculate a stable score. Smaller and mid-size hospices often fall short of that threshold even when the families they serve give good feedback.
The effect in Orange County is large. According to the CMS Provider Data Catalog, 139 Medicare-certified hospices are based in Orange County. In the August 2026 data, fewer than 30 have a published “would recommend” score, and fewer than 20 have a star rating. “Not available” usually means the hospice didn’t have enough surveys returned. It doesn’t mean the hospice did poorly.
So a missing star isn’t a red flag on its own, and having a star isn’t the whole story. Look at the underlying percentages when they are published.
The Hospice Care Index (HCI)
The HCI is a score from 0 to 10. It combines ten signals from Medicare claims, such as how often patients get nurse visits near the end of life, gaps in nursing visits, and how often patients leave hospice and come back. A higher score is better. Some online “best hospice” lists only include hospices with a perfect 10, so a good hospice can be left off a list for missing one point. Use the HCI as one input, not a verdict.
A practical checklist
- Confirm the agency. Match the name, address and CCN. Several Orange County hospices have similar names.
- Check Medicare certification. Every hospice on Care Compare is certified. Note how long it has been.
- Read the family survey percentages if they are published, especially “would definitely recommend,” pain management and timely help.
- Check the state license. California’s HCAI and CDPH publish licensing records for hospices.
- Then call. Ask who answers at 2 a.m., how quickly a nurse can come out, what languages the team speaks, and how they support the family after a death.
How to look up Maxcare Hospice
To show how this works, here is what the public record shows for us:
- Medicare-certified since 2012, CCN 551689.
- California HCAI ID 406304488.
- 78% of families would definitely recommend us (Medicare CAHPS survey, 10/2023–9/2025).
We don’t have a star rating yet because we haven’t had enough completed surveys. You can see our Care Compare page and check every number yourself. If you have questions about the data, or about whether hospice is right for your family, call us at (714) 844-7777. Nurses are on call 24/7, and our team speaks English and Vietnamese.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medicare Care Compare free to use?
Yes. It’s a free public website run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). You don’t need to log in.
Why does a hospice say “Not available” for star rating?
Usually because it didn’t have enough completed family surveys in the reporting period for CMS to publish a reliable rating. Fewer than 20 of the 139 Orange County hospices currently have a star rating.
How often is Care Compare data updated?
CMS refreshes hospice data on a regular schedule, several times a year. Survey results cover a multi-year window. The August 2026 release covers October 2023 to September 2025.
What is a CCN?
The CMS Certification Number is a unique six-digit ID that Medicare gives each certified provider. Maxcare Hospice’s CCN is 551689.
Can I choose any hospice, or does my doctor choose?
You choose. Your doctor certifies eligibility, but under Medicare the patient or family can pick any Medicare-certified hospice that serves their area, and can change hospices.
Helpful pages: how to choose a hospice in Orange County
