About Big Sky Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
Big Sky Hospice is an hospice care provider in Missoula, MT, serving patients and families in Missoula County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2002, Big Sky Hospice has provided 24 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Big Sky Hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day, covering 24 ZIP codes across its service area. 38% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
CMS has assigned Big Sky Hospice a 3-star quality rating based on caregiver survey feedback, indicating average satisfaction with the hospice's care. The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 8 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency.
When choosing hospice care in Missoula, MT, consider quality ratings, caregiver satisfaction surveys, the hospice's experience with your loved one's condition, and the service area. Since hospice care is typically delivered in the home, the responsiveness and availability of the care team are critical factors.
At a Glance
Caregiver Satisfaction
CAHPS Hospice Survey results from bereaved family caregivers
Average
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
Big Sky Hospice has received a 3-star quality rating from CMS, based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey. This average rating reflects caregiver satisfaction across communication, symptom management, timely care, and emotional support. CMS publishes these ratings to help families in Missoula, MT compare hospice providers.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
93% of caregivers gave Big Sky Hospice a top rating for emotional & spiritual support, above the national average of 90%.
Treated with Respect
Whether the patient was treated with dignity and respect
92% of caregivers gave a top rating for treated with respect, consistent with the national average of 90%.
Help with Symptoms
How well the hospice team managed pain and other symptoms
69% of caregivers gave a top rating for help with symptoms, below the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
79% of caregivers gave a top rating for team communication, consistent with the national average of 81%.
Getting Timely Care
Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed
70% of caregivers gave a top rating for getting timely care, below the national average of 77%.
Training for Family Caregivers
Whether sufficient training was provided to care for the patient
69% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, below the national average of 75%.
Overall Rating (9-10)
Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10
82% of caregivers gave a top rating for overall rating (9-10), consistent with the national average of 81%.
Would Recommend
Percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend this hospice
86% of caregivers gave a top rating for would recommend, consistent with the national average of 84%.
Source: CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey · Vertical markers indicate national average
Quality Process Measures
CMS hospice care quality indicators vs. national benchmarks
Treatment Preferences Documented
Patients whose treatment preferences were discussed and documented
100.0%
Natl: 99.5%
Beliefs & Values Addressed
Patients whose beliefs and values were addressed in the plan of care
99.0%
Natl: 98.3%
Pain Screening
Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission
99.5%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
99.1%
Natl: 94.8%
Dyspnea Screening
Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission
99.0%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
100.0%
Natl: 97.4%
Opioid Bowel Regimen
Patients on opioids who were offered a bowel regimen
100.0%
Natl: 93.2%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
98.4%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Big Sky Hospice's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 8 out of 10, below the national average of 8.8. The HCI evaluates hospices on nursing visit continuity, care transitions, spending efficiency, and presence in the final days.
62.4% of Big Sky Hospice's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, significantly above the national average of 47.9%. This is one of the most meaningful quality indicators — having the hospice team present during the final hours provides critical comfort to both patients and families.
Visits Near Death
Patients with visits in last 3 days of life
92.4%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
11.2
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
6.2%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
80.5%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
3.1%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
43.8%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
3.1%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
6.3%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
0%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$17,559
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Big Sky Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cardiovascular disease (26%), followed by dementia (23%), cancer (23%), respiratory disease (14%), other conditions (11%), stroke (7%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Big Sky Hospice delivers 38% of its care in patients' homes, with 59% in assisted living settings, 2% in skilled nursing settings. The significant proportion of facility-based care may reflect patients requiring higher levels of medical support or those without available home caregivers. The hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day.
Assisted Living
Patient's Home
Skilled Nursing
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Big Sky Hospice
What is the CMS rating for Big Sky Hospice?
Big Sky Hospice has a 3-star quality rating from CMS based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey of bereaved family caregivers, which evaluates satisfaction across areas including symptom management, communication, and emotional support.
What conditions does Big Sky Hospice primarily treat?
Big Sky Hospice's patient population includes cardiovascular disease (26%), dementia (23%), cancer (23%), respiratory disease (14%), other conditions (11%), stroke (7%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Big Sky Hospice provide care?
Big Sky Hospice provides care in assisted living (59%), patient's home (38%), skilled nursing (2%).
How large is Big Sky Hospice?
Big Sky Hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day and covers 24 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Big Sky Hospice?
Affiliated physician data is not currently available for Big Sky Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·