To run a California hospice license lookup, use Cal Health Find, the free California Department of Public Health database at cdph.ca.gov. Search by hospice name, city, or zip code to confirm the provider holds an active license and to review its inspection and complaint history. For families relying on the Medicare hospice benefit, also check the federal Care Compare tool, because state licensing and Medicare certification are separate approvals.
How to Search Cal Health Find
Cal Health Find is the California Health Facility Information Database and covers more than 10,000 health care facilities regulated by CDPH. From the Cal Health Find homepage, narrow your search by facility name, facility type, or location.1California Department of Public Health. CalHealthFind – California Health Facility Information Database
Two hospice-related facility types appear in the dropdown. “Hospice” is the typical agency that sends care teams to a patient’s home or residential facility. “Hospice Facility” is an inpatient location with up to 24 beds that delivers hospice services on-site. If you’re arranging home-based care, choose the first option.
Partial names work in the name field. If you don’t have a specific provider in mind, entering a city or zip code with the facility type returns every licensed hospice serving that area. Click a result to open the provider’s profile, which carries everything CDPH tracks about that agency.
What the License Status Means
The licensing status is the headline fact on the profile. “Active” means the provider holds a current, valid CDPH license. “Expired,” “Suspended,” or “Revoked” means the agency is not legally authorized to operate.1California Department of Public Health. CalHealthFind – California Health Facility Information Database A suspension is a temporary prohibition, often imposed while an investigation or corrective action plays out. A revocation is permanent; the state has stripped the provider’s authority to deliver hospice care.
The profile also notes whether the hospice accepts Medicare and Medi-Cal, which is separate from the state license. A hospice can be state-licensed but not enrolled in either program, which means you would pay out of pocket.
Reading the Enforcement History
Below the status, Cal Health Find lists the provider’s performance history: complaints filed by patients or families, deficiencies found during inspections, incident reports submitted by the facility, and formal state enforcement actions.1California Department of Public Health. CalHealthFind – California Health Facility Information Database
Deficiency reports document violations of state regulations found during routine inspections or complaint investigations. Citations carry financial penalties and are classified by severity, with the most serious reserved for situations that caused or could have caused direct patient harm. A clean history isn’t a guarantee of good care, but repeated deficiencies or substantiated complaints are a clear warning sign. This is where the lookup earns its keep. Two hospices with identical “Active” licenses can look very different once you compare their enforcement records.
Why the Backdrop Matters: California’s Hospice Moratorium
Anyone running a California hospice license lookup right now should know the regulatory context. In 2022, California imposed a moratorium on all new hospice licenses after a state audit uncovered widespread fraud and abuse. Senate Bill 664 barred CDPH from issuing any new hospice licenses while the state developed stronger screening and oversight rules.2California Legislative Information. SB-664 Hospice Licensure
The freeze has been extended. Assembly Bill 177, signed in 2024, pushed the moratorium to January 1, 2027, or one year after CDPH adopts emergency regulations tightening licensing standards, whichever comes later.3California Legislative Information. AB-177 Health Those regulations must include maximum travel-time standards for hospice staff reaching patients and minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.4California Legislative Information. California Health and Safety Code Chapter 8.5 Article 3
Enforcement during the moratorium has been dramatic. As of March 2026, CDPH had revoked more than 280 hospice licenses over the preceding two years, with roughly 300 additional providers under evaluation for revocation and 284 individuals arrested.5Governor of California. California Revoked Over 280 Hospice Licenses, 300 More Providers Under Investigation Since Governor Newsom’s Hospice Moratorium An active license today means the agency has survived a period of heightened scrutiny, but it also means the enforcement section of the profile deserves a careful read before you choose a provider.
Check Medicare Certification Separately
A California state license and Medicare certification are different approvals. The state license authorizes the hospice to operate in California. Medicare certification means the hospice has met separate federal Conditions of Participation and can bill Medicare for services.6Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospices Because the Medicare hospice benefit covers most hospice patients in the U.S., this certification matters for most families.
To confirm Medicare certification, use CMS Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare. Select “Hospice” as the provider type and search by name or location.7Medicare. Find Hospice Care Near Me Care Compare also publishes quality measures that Cal Health Find does not track. If a provider appears on Cal Health Find with an active state license but doesn’t appear on Care Compare, it may not accept Medicare. Ask the provider directly before enrolling if Medicare coverage matters to you.
How to File a Complaint
If your lookup turns up concerns, or if you experience poor care firsthand, you can file a complaint directly with CDPH. The department accepts complaints three ways:8California Department of Public Health. Complaint Investigation Process
- Online through the Cal Health Find portal on the CDPH website, which routes the complaint to the appropriate district office.
- By phone to your local CDPH district office. District office numbers and the counties they serve are listed on the CDPH site; for general information, call (916) 558-1784.
- In writing by fax or mail to the district office covering the hospice’s location.
After receiving a complaint, CDPH investigates and, if violations are confirmed, issues a Statement of Deficiencies (Form 2567) that becomes part of the hospice’s public record on Cal Health Find. Substantiated complaints are the enforcement history that will show up the next time someone runs a lookup on the same provider.