Vitas Innovative Hospice Care is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 8527 Bluejacket Drive in Lenexa, KS 66214. It has been certified since 2006. It cares for about 46 patients on an average day, making it a small hospice. It scores 9 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the Kansas average is 9.1. The index flags 2 areas where it is worse than the Kansas average, starting with patients discharged alive within 7 days.
What is Vitas Innovative Hospice Care's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Vitas Innovative Hospice Care |
|---|---|
| Address | 8527 Bluejacket Drive, Lenexa, KS 66214 |
| Phone | (913) 722-1631 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 171564 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 05/04/2006 |
How does Vitas Innovative Hospice Care score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Vitas Innovative Hospice Care scores 9 out of 10 on the Hospice Care Index, which counts how many of ten visit, discharge and staffing indicators a hospice meets. Against the Kansas average it is better on 3 of the indicators below and worse on 2.
| Indicator | Vitas Innovative Hospice Care | Kansas average | U.S. average | vs. Kansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 32.6% | 34.9% | 52.4% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 12.1% | 7.3% | 7.3% | Worse |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 36.4% | 37.2% | 37.4% | About the same |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 3% | 7.3% | 8.5% | Better |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 9.1% | 1.9% | 2.1% | Worse |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 20.1 min | 15.6 min | 19.9 min | Better |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 9.8% | 8.9% | 9.6% | About the same |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 98.1% | 91.7% | 89.3% | Better |
Separately, 93.3% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Kansas average 95.7%) and 74.9% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (Kansas average 64.5%).
What do families say about Vitas Innovative Hospice Care?
87% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Vitas Innovative Hospice Care; the Kansas average is 87%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | Vitas Innovative Hospice Care | Kansas average | U.S. average | vs. Kansas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 88% | 83% | 82% | Better |
| Team always provided timely help | 87% | 80% | 78% | Better |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 94% | 92% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 95% | 93% | 91% | About the same |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 81% | 78% | 76% | Better |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 85% | 85% | 83% | About the same |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 87% | 87% | 85% | About the same |
Where does Vitas Innovative Hospice Care deliver care, and to whom?
47% of vitas innovative hospice care's care is delivered in a nursing facility and its largest patient group by diagnosis is stroke (35%). 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 nursing facility | 47% |
| At home | 42% |
| In assisted living | 9% |
| In a skilled nursing facility | 1% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Stroke | 35% |
| Cancer | 29% |
| Respiratory disease | 14% |
| Other conditions | 12% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 11% |
Which Kansas City-area ZIP codes does Vitas Innovative Hospice Care serve?
Vitas Innovative Hospice Care tells Medicare it serves 37 ZIP codes in Kansas City and the surrounding Missouri and Kansas counties.
- 66018
- 66021
- 66030
- 66061
- 66062
- 66085
- 66101
- 66102
- 66104
- 66105
- 66106
- 66109
- 66111
- 66112
- 66202
- 66203
- 66204
- 66205
- 66206
- 66207
- 66208
- 66209
- 66210
- 66211
- 66212
- 66213
- 66214
- 66215
- 66216
- 66217
- 66218
- 66219
- 66220
- 66221
- 66223
- 66224
- 66226
What should you ask Vitas Innovative Hospice Care before choosing it?
Ask what happens in the first week
12.1% of its live discharges came within a week of enrollment (Kansas average 7.3%). Ask what the admission visit covers and how they confirm hospice is the right fit before enrolling.
Ask how fast they can admit
Ask how soon after the call a nurse can come out, including evenings and weekends, and how quickly medications and equipment arrive.
Ask where inpatient care happens
When symptoms cannot be managed at home, hospice provides short inpatient stays. Ask which facility they use and how far it is from the family.
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 Lenexa, KS?
- Enhabit Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Amedisys Hospice — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
- Gentiva — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
All Medicare-certified hospices in Kansas City and the surrounding Missouri and Kansas counties
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is Vitas Innovative Hospice Care Medicare-certified?
Yes. Vitas Innovative Hospice Care is certified by Medicare under provider number 171564 and has been since 2006.
What is Vitas Innovative Hospice Care's Hospice Care Index score?
9 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Kansas average is 9.1.
How large is Vitas Innovative Hospice Care?
It cares for about 46 patients on an average day.
