Center for Hospice Care

What Center for Hospice Care does

Center for Hospice Care (CHC) is an independent, community-based non-profit hospice and palliative care provider headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana, and the largest non-profit hospice in the state. Founded in 1980 (one source cites 1978 as incorporation), CHC has served over 47,000 patients across nine northern Indiana counties, delivering more than 90% of care in patients' homes and operating two freestanding Medicare-certified hospice inpatient units: the 12-bed Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka and the 7-bed Esther's House in Elkhart. These are two of only seven such units in Indiana, a structural source of competitive advantage.

The organization operates a portfolio of disease-specific proprietary programs (HeartWize for advanced heart disease, BreatheEazy for COPD, DementiaCare for Alzheimer's/dementia) along with pediatric and perinatal palliative care, bereavement services, the We Honor Veterans program, and Pet Peace of Mind. Underlying these programs are specialized clinical protocols, condition-specific medication kits, staff training pipelines (including ~75 staff certified in dementia care via the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care), and an interdisciplinary care team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, chaplains, aides, and trained volunteers. The technology is fundamentally human-delivered care built on standardized care pathways, with CHAP Accreditation (4 consecutive years as of 2024) anchoring quality compliance.

CHC generates revenue primarily through the Medicare Hospice Benefit, supplemented by Medicaid, private insurance, self-pay palliative care on a sliding fee scale, and charitable donations channeled through the affiliated Hospice Foundation (which has contributed over $28 million to charity care and free services since 2007). The affiliated ecosystem extends to Center for Palliative Care, Milton Adult Day Services, Center for Education & Advance Care Planning, Honoring Choices of North Central Indiana, and Global Partners in Care. Go-to-market is sales-led via healthcare provider referrals, hospital partnerships, and community outreach, with phone-based admission (no physician referral required) and 24/7 triage availability. The leadership team is led by President and CEO John Mastrojohn III.

Name

Center for Hospice Care

Legal name

Center for Hospice Care

Website

https://cfhcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Center for Hospice Care is the largest non-profit hospice provider in Indiana, delivering hospice, palliative, bereavement, and specialty disease care (heart, COPD, dementia, pediatric) to 47,000+ patients across nine northern Indiana counties, with two of the state's seven freestanding Medicare-certified inpatient units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Home Health Care Services (6216), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Hospice Agencies (HLAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inpatient Hospice (General Inpatient Care) (HLADAHAB), Hospice Care in Nursing Facilities (SNF/NH Hospice) (HLADAHAD), Hospice Care in Assisted Living / Residential Care Facilities (HLADAHAE), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Hospice care services
• Palliative care services
• Bereavement counseling
• Grief support programs
• End-of-life care

Headquarters

HQ city

Mishawaka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicare Hospice Benefit: Primary revenue source. All hospice services are provided at no charge to hospice-eligible Medicare beneficiaries through the Hospice Medicare Benefit established in 1983. Covers skilled nursing, hospice aides, social workers, volunteers, chaplains, durable medical equipment, medications, and grief counseling.
2. Medicaid Hospice Coverage: State Medicaid programs cover hospice services for eligible individuals, providing another significant revenue stream.
3. Private Insurance: Commercial insurance and private insurance policies that cover hospice services contribute to revenue stream.
4. Charitable Donations: Hospice Foundation supports Center for Hospice Care through charitable donations. Over $28 million has been given back since 2007 in charity care and free services. Donors include individuals, businesses, and foundations through various giving programs including Circle of Caring.
5. Self-Pay (Palliative Care): For palliative care services not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, a self-pay program is available on a sliding fee scale. No one is turned away due to inability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Center for Hospice Care provides hospice, palliative, and bereavement care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families across nine counties in northern Indiana. The organization delivers interdisciplinary clinical care (physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers) primarily in patients' homes, supplemented by two freestanding Medicare-certified inpatient units, and runs a suite of specialized programs (HeartWize, BreatheEazy, DementiaCare, pediatric/perinatal palliative care, We Honor Veterans) along with free community bereavement services.

Product overview

Center for Hospice Care is a hospice and palliative care organization offering a comprehensive suite of services organized around improving quality of living for patients with serious illness. The core offerings include hospice care and palliative care programs, supplemented by specialized disease management programs (HeartWize for advanced heart disease, BreatheEazy for COPD, DementiaCare for Alzheimer's/dementia), and pediatric/perinatal palliative care. Support services include bereavement programs with individual/family/group counseling, Camp Evergreen grief camp for youth, After Images art counseling, Pet Peace of Mind pet care assistance, and We Honor Veterans recognition programs. The organization operates two freestanding Medicare-certified inpatient units (Ernestine M. Raclin House and Esther's House) and provides over 90% of care in patients' homes across nine northern Indiana counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HeartWize: A cutting-edge program designed for patients with advanced heart disease to optimally manage their care and avoid re-hospitalizations.
• BreatheEazy
• DementiaCare
• Ernestine M. Raclin House
• Esther's House
• Joel and Elizabeth Welch Life Transition Center
• Camp Evergreen

Products and services

• Hospice Care Comfort-driven, whole-person hospice care for patients with life-limiting diagnoses and a 6-month or less prognosis, including pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and family caregiver support delivered by an interdisciplinary team.
• Palliative Care Specialty palliative care for patients at any stage of serious illness, available alongside curative treatment, focused on symptom management, care coordination, and quality of life.
• HeartWize Program Specialized program for patients with maximally treated advanced heart disease, providing cardiac-specific medication kits, clinical protocols, treatment pathways, and patient education aimed at reducing ER visits and hospital readmissions.
• BreatheEazy Program Specialized treatment program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that includes pulmonary-specific medication kits, protocols, treatment pathways, and patient education to manage symptoms at home and reduce hospitalizations.
• DementiaCare Program Comprehensive dementia and Alzheimer's care program with team-based care delivery, pain and symptom management, specially trained staff and volunteers, and support for family and professional caregivers, including non-verbal pain recognition.
• Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care Specialized hospice and palliative care for children from birth to age 20, including a concurrent care option that allows hospice alongside curative treatment, delivered by a pediatric-trained team.
• Perinatal Palliative Care Support program for newborns with potentially life-limiting conditions and their families, providing comfort care, birth planning, memory-making, and ongoing support during and after pregnancy.
• We Honor Veterans Program Veteran-specific hospice services in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including pinning ceremonies, Vet-to-Vet volunteer companionship, Vet-to-Vet cafes, specialized bereavement support, and honor flights.
• Bereavement Programs Individual, family, and group grief counseling for children, teens, and adults provided at no charge by licensed counselors and trained volunteers, available to anyone in the nine-county service area for up to 12 months after a death.
• Camp Evergreen Free annual day grief camp for youth and teens who have experienced the death of a significant person, plus a Saturday family workshop, provided as a community service.
• After Images Art Counseling Art bereavement counseling program that uses guided creative work as a means for participants to express grief, led by a trained art counselor at the Life Transition Center.
• Pet Peace of Mind Program that helps hospice patients keep their pets at home by providing financial resources and trained volunteers to assist with feeding, walking, grooming, and veterinary visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of families would recommend Center for Hospice Care to others
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hospice FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospice Foundation supports Center for Hospice Care through charitable donations and fundraising events. Has helped provide over $28 million in charity care since 2007. Manages Circle of Caring donor program and annual fundraising events.
• Global Partners in CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization focused on international hospice partnerships and care initiatives.
• Center for Palliative CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization providing palliative care services as part of the Center for Hospice Care network.
• Milton Adult Day ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization providing adult day services for individuals needing assistance during daytime hours. Offers safe environment with caring, warmth and compassion.
• Center for Education & Advance Care PlanningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization focused on education about end-of-life planning and advance care directives.
• Honoring Choices of North Central IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization working on advance care planning initiatives in northern Indiana communities.
• Pet Peace of MindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational nonprofit providing hospices with training and tools to care for patients' pets. Provides resources to keep patients and pets together, improving quality of life.
• Palliative Care Association of UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership supporting palliative care development in Uganda.
• We Honor Veterans (VA and National Alliance for Care at Home)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs and National Alliance for Care at Home. Program focuses on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment of veterans' unique needs.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for pediatric hospice patients. CHC worked with St. Jude's to coordinate care for patients traveling from northern Indiana for treatment.
• Make-a-WishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWish-granting organization that worked with CHC to fulfill patient wishes, including a camper for family travel.
• Memorial Hospital (South Bend)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal hospital partnership for coordinating patient care and enabling transitions between hospital and hospice settings.
• National Partnership for Hospice Innovations (NPHI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for hospice innovation and best practices sharing.
• CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner)coreOthersIndependent, not-for-profit accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. CHAP has accredited Center for Hospice Care under the Hospice Standards of Excellence for 4+ consecutive years.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vitas Healthcare: Largest hospice provider in the United States, operating hospice and palliative care programs across multiple states. Directly comparable to CHC in core hospice services, inpatient hospice capacity, and disease-specific specialty programs.
• Compassus: National hospice, palliative, and home health provider with a multi-state footprint. Directly comparable to CHC in core hospice services, palliative care offerings, and disease-specific specialty programs.
• Care Dimensions: Non-profit hospice and palliative care provider in Massachusetts operating a freestanding hospice inpatient facility (Care Dimension's Kaplan Family Hospice House). Closely comparable to CHC as a non-profit hospice with inpatient capacity, specialty programs, and bereavement services.
• Ohio's Hospice: Non-profit hospice collaborative serving multiple Ohio counties through affiliated providers. Closely comparable to CHC as a community-based, non-profit hospice offering specialty programs, bereavement services, and a multi-county regional footprint.
• Gentiva: National hospice and palliative care provider operating across numerous states. Directly comparable to CHC in hospice service delivery, specialty programs (cardiac, COPD, dementia), and home-based care model.

Broad incumbents

• LHC Group (now part of Optum): National home health and hospice provider. Comparable to CHC in hospice service delivery, home-based care model, and multi-state footprint, but operates as a much larger, publicly-traded incumbent.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Public company providing home and community-based health services including hospice and palliative care. Comparable to CHC in hospice service delivery but offers a broader portfolio across pharmacy, home health, and behavioral health.
• Amedisys (now part of UnitedHealth Group/Optum): Large national hospice and home health provider with significant hospice footprint. Comparable to CHC in hospice care delivery but operates as a publicly-traded, broad-line incumbent with home health as well as hospice.

Regional players

• St. Croix Hospice: Regional hospice provider operating across the Midwest and surrounding states. Comparable to CHC in hospice service delivery and disease-specific specialty programs but serves a broader multi-state geography rather than a single regional cluster.
• Franciscan Health Hospice (Indiana): Indiana-based health system offering hospice services within Franciscan Health's network. Comparable to CHC as an Indiana hospice provider operating in overlapping service areas, but embedded within a larger hospital system rather than as a standalone non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/center4hospice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKDuuggggi79lyRDE0Hlqgg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Center4Hospice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centerforhospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/center4hospice
• Pinterestpinterest.com/center4hospice

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Hospice Care