COMMUNITY HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES
Provider Information
- Address
- 42 CEDAR STREET
BANGOR, ME 04401 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- July 17, 1997
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CMS Quality Ratings
Composite score combining quality measures and patient survey results.
Based on the CMS Hospice Care Index — 10 operational quality indicators including visits near death, nursing minutes, and care transitions.
CAHPS Hospice Survey — family caregivers rate communication, symptom management, respect, and overall experience.
CMS scores as of August 2026. Quality of Care derived from CMS Hospice Care Index. Patient Satisfaction from the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey. Overall is the equally-weighted average of both. All source data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Staffing & Capacity
| Role | Staff Count |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (RN) | 21 |
59
Total Employees
Staffing data as reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Inpatient Care and Medical Equipment
Hospices report these services to Medicare when they are certified. This is what COMMUNITY HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Arranged through another hospital or nursing home
- Type of inpatient care
- Both general inpatient care and respite care
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
Short stays in a hospice inpatient unit, hospital, or nursing home for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed where the patient lives, or to give family caregivers a break.
Equipment and supplies tied to the terminal illness and the plan of care, such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wound supplies, or a wheelchair.
Medicare lets hospices provide these services through arrangements with other organizations. Either way, the hospice stays responsible for the covered care in the patient’s plan of care.
Reported by this hospice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services when it was certified in 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how COMMUNITY HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES compares to hospices nationwide.
14.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 70th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
30
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
How this hospice compares nationally
Bars show national standing on measures from the CMS Hospice Care Index. A fuller bar means this hospice does better than more of the hospices CMS tracks.
- Nurse care minutes per home care day14.3 min
Ranks better than about 70% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The average minutes of nursing care per day for patients getting routine care at home, based on Medicare claims. More nurse time usually means more hands-on support.
- Skilled nursing on weekends8.2%
Ranks better than about 53% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of skilled nursing time delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. Symptoms do not wait for weekdays, so weekend coverage matters.
- Nurse visits in the last days of life92.6%
Ranks better than about 44% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who got nurse visits in their final days of life. This is when families tend to need the most support.
- Gaps in nursing visits57.6%
Ranks better than about 43% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
How often patients went more than a week without a nursing visit. Fewer gaps mean steadier attention.
- Patients discharged alive early in care0%
Ranks better than about 81% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice alive within the first week of care. A rate of 0% means it did not happen to any of their patients.
- Patients discharged alive after 6 months23.8%
Ranks better than about 82% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients discharged alive after six months or more in hospice care.
- Hospital transfers near the end of care0%
Ranks better than about 81% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, spent time in the hospital, then came back to hospice.
- Hospital stays that interrupt hospice11.9%
Ranks better than about 1% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, went to the hospital, and died there soon after.
- Days at higher levels of care (CHC or GIP)67th percentile
What this measures
The share of care days delivered at higher levels, such as continuous home care or inpatient care. Shown only as a national rank because small percentages round to zero.
- Medicare spending per patient$11,638 · 17th percentile
What this measures
What Medicare paid per patient for this hospice's care. Higher or lower spending is not a quality judgment by itself.
Care steps completed at admissionShow detailsMedicare tracked 9 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 63.1% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.4%
- Pain assessment95.1%
- Breathing difficulty screening98.2%
- Breathing difficulty treatment92.8%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.4%
- Beliefs and values discussed95.2%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life63.1%
- All care steps completed86.8%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer42%
- Dementia6%
- Heart and circulatory disease20%
- Lung and respiratory disease10%
- Stroke11%
- Other conditions13%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Community Health & Counseling Services
Community Health & Counseling Services serves the Bangor, Maine area with end-of-life support. This provider operates as a freestanding hospice agency. They have been certified by Medicare since 1997. The team provides care for patients in Penobscot County. They focus on helping families during difficult times. Their long history of service shows they have been part of the local healthcare system for many years. Choosing a provider with this much local experience can help your family find peace. They are a non-profit organization. That means they put their resources back into their mission of care. You can find their main office on Cedar Street in Bangor. It is a place where many local families turn for support during a health crisis.
Understanding Their Standards
This agency is a non-profit organization. Being non-profit means the group focuses on its mission rather than profits. They have held Medicare certification for over 25 years. This shows a long commitment to meeting federal safety rules. Medicare checks hospice agencies to make sure they follow strict quality standards. This process helps keep care safe for everyone. The agency employs 59 people to assist with patient needs. This includes a team of 21 registered nurses. These nurses help manage pain and monitor health changes closely. Having a large team of nurses is a strong sign of their focus on clinical care. You should know that CMS tracks how these agencies perform. This agency has strong marks for their quality of care. Their patient satisfaction scores are also solid. These measures help you compare local options with confidence.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Bangor?
Hospice care in Bangor centers on comfort and dignity. The goal is to manage symptoms so the patient stays as comfortable as possible. This agency uses a team approach to cover your needs. With 21 registered nurses on staff, they have the clinical skill to handle complex health issues at home. The team also includes other professionals to support the whole family. They help with physical pain, emotional stress, and daily tasks. Most care happens where the patient lives. This could be a private home or a care facility in the Penobscot area. The staff works with the family to create a plan that fits the patient. This plan changes as the person's needs change. It is about keeping the patient at home. That is what most families want. They offer support 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing the right hospice agency is a big step for your family. You should feel comfortable with the people who will enter your home. Start by asking how quickly they can respond to a sudden call at night. Ask how many nurses they have available for weekend visits. You should also ask how they manage pain and other difficult symptoms. It helps to ask how they support family members during the grieving process. Do they offer volunteers to sit with the patient? You need to know how they handle emergencies. Ask if they have a doctor on call to help with medical changes. Write these questions down before you meet with them. This helps you keep track of the answers you get. It is your right to know how they will care for your loved one.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your family history is a treasure. We can help you record and save the stories that matter most to your loved ones during this time.
Start Preserving MemoriesOther Hospice Providers Nearby
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ST. JOSEPH HOSPICE
BEACON HOSPICE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY
NORTHERN LIGHT HOME CARE & HOSPICE
GENTIVA I
MAINEGENERAL COMMUNITY CARE
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