Experience, Ethics, and Quality Matter in Hospice Care

By Natalie Petersen, Pathways Director of Business Development

You may have recently seen news coverage about new Medicare and CMS regulations impacting hospice providers in parts of the country. Naturally, families and healthcare partners have questions.

Be confident: These regulations do not impact Pathways.

The recent regulations are focused on newly enrolling hospice organizations and concerns about fraud in certain markets. Pathways remains what we have been for nearly 50 years: a trusted, community-based nonprofit serving Northern Colorado families with compassion, accountability, and experience.

In today’s healthcare environment, quality and reputation matter.

Pathways is proud to be Northern Colorado’s only 4-star hospice according to Medicare’s CMS Care Compare quality ratings. As well, the Better Business Bureau of Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming awarded Pathways with the 2026 Torch Award for Ethics — recognition given to select organizations that demonstrate exceptional integrity, trust, and service to their communities.

As a nonprofit organization, every decision we make is rooted in caring for people — not shareholders.

“For over 48 years, Pathways has cared for Northern Colorado families the same way we would want our own families cared for — with compassion, dignity, and accountability,” says Evan Hyatt, President.

We are also ACHC accredited, voluntarily meeting standards that exceed many baseline regulatory requirements. But quality care is about far more than certifications and ratings. It’s reflected in responsive communication, experienced clinicians, emotional support for families, and the ability to walk alongside patients and loved ones during vulnerable moments with skill and humanity.

From our region’s only hospice inpatient care center of its kind to our nationally recognized Grief & Loss program, Pathways continues to invest in care that supports the whole human experience — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Medicare’s Care Compare ratings were created to help families make informed decisions. Those ratings reflect measurable standards and real patient experiences, and they matter when families are choosing who they trust to care for someone they love.

As families explore hospice options, we encourage them to ask thoughtful questions:

How long has the organization served the community?
What do quality ratings say?
Is support available 24/7?
Do local physicians, hospitals, and facilities trust this provider?
What support is available for family members and caregivers?
How does the organization approach comfort, communication, and dignity at end of life?

Families deserve care they can trust.

For nearly five decades, that has remained the mission of Pathways.

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