Boston Senior AdvisorVna of Eastern Massachusetts is a Medicare-certified home health agency based at 259 Lowell Street in Somerville, MA 02144. Medicare first certified it in 1966, 60 years ago. Medicare rates its quality of patient care at 2.5 out of 5 stars, below the Massachusetts average of 3. Its strongest result against the Massachusetts average is falls with major injury; its weakest is breathing improved.
What is Vna of Eastern Massachusetts's Medicare record?
| Agency | Vna of Eastern Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Address | 259 Lowell Street, Somerville, MA 02144 |
| Phone | (617) 623-3600 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 227064 |
| Ownership | Non-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 07/01/1966 |
How does Vna of Eastern Massachusetts score on Medicare's quality measures?
Medicare publishes 11 patient-outcome and process measures for Vna of Eastern Massachusetts. It is better than the Massachusetts average on 1 and worse on 5.
| Measure | Vna of Eastern Massachusetts | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started care on time | 99.3% | 96.5% | 96.6% | About the same |
| Got better at walking or moving around | 82.4% | 86.7% | 88.6% | Worse |
| Got better at getting in and out of bed | 86.5% | 89.2% | 89.8% | About the same |
| Got better at bathing | 73.9% | 88.7% | 90.7% | Worse |
| Breathing improved | 64.4% | 89.9% | 91.5% | Worse |
| Got better at taking medicines correctly | 82.2% | 85.3% | 88.3% | Worse |
| Medication issues addressed on time | 94.1% | 94.4% | 94.4% | About the same |
| Flu shot status checked | 64.3% | 64.6% | 63.3% | About the same |
| Met expected function at discharge | 66.5% | 78.1% | 71.7% | Worse |
| Falls with major injury (lower is better) | 0.3% | 1% | 0.9% | Better |
| New or worsened pressure ulcers (lower is better) | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.2% | About the same |
Where it stands out: falls with major injury.
Where it trails: breathing improved, got better at bathing and met expected function at discharge.
What do patients say about Vna of Eastern Massachusetts?
72% of surveyed patients said they would definitely recommend Vna of Eastern Massachusetts, based on 33 completed surveys. The Massachusetts average is 77%.
| Survey question | Vna of Eastern Massachusetts | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team gave care in a professional way | 80% | 87% | 89% | Worse |
| Team communicated well | 81% | 83% | 86% | About the same |
| Team discussed medicines, pain and home safety | 72% | 83% | 82% | Worse |
| Rated the agency 9 or 10 out of 10 | 77% | 83% | 85% | Worse |
| Would definitely recommend the agency | 72% | 77% | 79% | Worse |
Do Vna of Eastern Massachusetts's patients end up back in the hospital?
On the hospital-use measures Medicare can calculate for Vna of Eastern Massachusetts, it performs the same as the national rate.
| Measure | Medicare's category | Risk-adjusted rate |
|---|---|---|
| Patients who went home and stayed home after care ended | Same As National Rate | 83.6% |
| Preventable hospital readmissions in the 30 days after care | Same As National Rate | 4.4% |
| Preventable hospital stays during care | Same As National Rate | 11.5% |
Which home health services does Vna of Eastern Massachusetts provide, and which does it not?
Vna of Eastern Massachusetts reports offering skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and home health aide. It does not report offering speech therapy and medical social work.
| Service | Offered by Vna of Eastern Massachusetts? |
|---|---|
| Skilled nursing | Yes |
| Physical therapy | Yes |
| Occupational therapy | Yes |
| Speech therapy | No |
| Medical social work | No |
| Home health aide | Yes |
| Round-the-clock or shift care | No. Home health is visits, not shifts. |
| Housekeeping, meals and errands on their own | No. Medicare does not cover them unless tied to skilled care. |
| Long-term help with bathing and dressing | No. That is non-medical home care, which families usually arrange and pay for separately. |
Which Boston-area ZIP codes does Vna of Eastern Massachusetts serve?
Vna of Eastern Massachusetts tells Medicare it serves 26 ZIP codes in Boston and Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex and Plymouth counties, out of 27 in total.
- 01801
- 01830
- 01880
- 01890
- 01902
- 01906
- 02128
- 02138
- 02139
- 02140
- 02141
- 02143
- 02144
- 02145
- 02148
- 02149
- 02150
- 02151
- 02152
- 02155
- 02176
- 02180
- 02472
- 02474
- 02476
- 02478
A ZIP on this list means the agency accepts referrals there. It does not promise a nurse is available this week, so confirm your address when you call.
What should you ask Vna of Eastern Massachusetts before starting care?
Ask about breathing and oxygen management
64.4% of patients had less shortness of breath by the end of care (Massachusetts average 89.9%). If the diagnosis is COPD or heart failure, ask how the nurse monitors breathing between visits.
Ask who helps with bathing, and how often
73.9% of patients improved at bathing (Massachusetts average 88.7%). Ask whether a home health aide is part of the plan or whether bathing help is left to the family.
Ask what 'done' looks like
66.5% of patients reached the level of function Medicare expected by discharge (Massachusetts average 78.1%). Ask what goals they would set for your situation and what happens if progress stalls.
Ask whether your plan treats it as in-network
Original Medicare pays any certified agency. Medicare Advantage plans use networks, and an out-of-network agency can mean a denied claim. Give them the exact plan name on the card.
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare provider data release dated 2026-09-21.
Common questions
Is Vna of Eastern Massachusetts Medicare-certified?
Yes. Vna of Eastern Massachusetts is certified by Medicare under provider number 227064 and has been since 1966. Original Medicare pays certified agencies directly for covered home health care.
What is Vna of Eastern Massachusetts's Medicare star rating?
2.5 out of 5 for quality of patient care. The Massachusetts average is 3.
Does Vna of Eastern Massachusetts provide physical therapy at home?
Yes, it reports offering physical therapy to Medicare. It also reports skilled nursing, occupational therapy and home health aide.
