Boston Senior AdvisorConstellation Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 38R Merrimac Street, Suite 201 in Newburyport, MA 01950. It has been certified since 2015. It cares for about 48 patients on an average day, making it a small hospice. It scores 10 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the Massachusetts average is 9.2. The index flags 4 areas where it is worse than the Massachusetts average, starting with gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days.
What is Constellation Hospice's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Constellation Hospice |
|---|---|
| Address | 38R Merrimac Street, Suite 201, Newburyport, MA 01950 |
| Phone | (978) 904-3059 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 221600 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 11/05/2015 |
How does Constellation Hospice score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Constellation Hospice scores 10 out of 10 on the Hospice Care Index, which counts how many of ten visit, discharge and staffing indicators a hospice meets. Against the Massachusetts average it is better on 1 of the indicators below and worse on 4.
| Indicator | Constellation Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 75.9% | 52.9% | 52.4% | Worse |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 1.4% | 9.4% | 7.3% | Better |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 46.4% | 36.4% | 37.4% | Worse |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 7.2% | 8.3% | 8.5% | About the same |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 4.3% | 2.7% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 8.4 min | 14 min | 19.9 min | Worse |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 6.5% | 8.6% | 9.6% | About the same |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 81.3% | 93.3% | 89.3% | Worse |
Separately, 88.9% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Massachusetts average 95.5%) and 59.9% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (Massachusetts average 67.5%).
What do families say about Constellation Hospice?
90% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Constellation Hospice; the Massachusetts average is 85%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | Constellation Hospice | Massachusetts average | U.S. average | vs. Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 80% | 81% | 82% | About the same |
| Team always provided timely help | 79% | 77% | 78% | About the same |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 95% | 91% | 91% | Better |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 94% | 91% | 91% | Better |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 84% | 76% | 76% | Better |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 86% | 82% | 83% | Better |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 90% | 85% | 85% | Better |
Where does Constellation Hospice deliver care, and to whom?
70% of constellation hospice's care is delivered in a skilled nursing facility and its largest patient group by diagnosis is dementia (58%). It has provided levels of care beyond routine home visits, such as continuous care at home or inpatient stays, in the last three years.
| Where care is delivered | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| In a skilled nursing facility | 70% |
| In assisted living | 22% |
| At home | 8% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Dementia | 58% |
| Other conditions | 14% |
| Cancer | 10% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 9% |
| Stroke | 6% |
Which Boston-area ZIP codes does Constellation Hospice serve?
Constellation Hospice tells Medicare it serves 49 ZIP codes in Boston and Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex and Plymouth counties.
- 01721
- 01749
- 01752
- 01760
- 01776
- 01778
- 01810
- 01824
- 01830
- 01832
- 01833
- 01834
- 01840
- 01844
- 01845
- 01876
- 01886
- 01913
- 01921
- 01922
- 01929
- 01930
- 01950
- 01951
- 01952
- 01966
- 01969
- 01970
- 02054
- 02056
- 02062
- 02090
- 02124
- 02126
- 02132
- 02155
- 02169
- 02301
- 02302
- 02324
- 02333
- 02346
- 02347
- 02351
- 02421
- 02458
- 02472
- 02482
- 02492
What should you ask Constellation Hospice before choosing it?
Ask how often the nurse visits
75.9% of Constellation Hospice's patients went more than seven days without a nursing visit at some point, against 52.9% across Massachusetts. Ask for the planned visit schedule in writing and who decides when it changes.
Ask how eligibility is reviewed
46.4% of its live discharges came after six months or more of care (Massachusetts average 36.4%). Ask how often the doctor recertifies eligibility and what support is offered if a patient is discharged.
Ask how long nursing visits last
Its nurses average 8.4 minutes per routine care day, against 14 minutes across Massachusetts. Ask how long a typical visit lasts and whether the same nurse comes each time.
Ask what the family is expected to do
Hospice supports the family caregiver; it does not replace one. Ask how many aide visits a week are typical and what happens overnight.
Which other hospices serve Newburyport, MA?
- Elara Caring — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is Constellation Hospice Medicare-certified?
Yes. Constellation Hospice is certified by Medicare under provider number 221600 and has been since 2015.
What is Constellation Hospice's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Massachusetts average is 9.2.
How large is Constellation Hospice?
It cares for about 48 patients on an average day.
