Morning Star Care Center
Nursing Home, Hospice Care, Respite Care & Skilled Nursing · Fort Washakie, WY
CMS overall rating Info CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.

Morning Star Care Center

Nursing Home, Hospice Care, Respite Care & Skilled Nursing · Fort Washakie, WY
CMS overall rating Info CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
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Morning Star Care Center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Overview of Morning Star Care Center

Morning Star Care Center is a 45-bed nonprofit skilled nursing facility in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, that serves Fremont County with 24-hour staffing, rehabilitation, respite care, and hospice services. The facility is administered by Kaeli Rivera and owned by Morning Star Care Center. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. The facility holds a 5-star overall CMS rating, ranking among the top performers in Wyoming. Its Health Inspection rating is 5 stars — nearly 50% above the Wyoming average — and its staffing rating is 4 stars, with total nurse hours of 7 hours and 32 minutes per resident per day, 63% above the state average of 4 hours and 37 minutes. CNA staffing is especially strong, running 78% above the Wyoming mean. The Quality Measures rating is 2 stars; elevated hospitalization rates (2.24 per 1,000 resident days vs. a state average of 1.30) and ED visit rates account for much of the gap. One $8,000 federal fine was issued in November 2024 — 80% below the Wyoming average of $40,000 — with no payment denials or Immediate Jeopardy findings. The facility’s occupancy rate is 60%, below the Wyoming average of 74.2%, signaling available beds. Additional services include physical and occupational therapy. The facility has an active resident council and an on-site dietitian presence. The payer mix is heavily Medicaid-oriented — 82.8% of current residents — with a 503-day average length of stay, indicating a long-term care population. Morning Star Care Center serves residents in Fremont County who require extended skilled nursing care, particularly those with Medicaid coverage or complex long-term care needs, and benefits from above-average staffing levels and an established hospice and rehabilitation program.

Quality ratings

Measured by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Overall rating Info The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Health Inspection Info Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
Staffing Info Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
Quality Measures Info Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.

Staffing hours breakdown

Info Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.

Hours per resident per day — compared to state averages

Total nursing care / resident Info Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
7h 32m per day
Rank #1 / 14Nurse hours — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 1st out of 14 homes in Wyoming for Nurse Hours. Shows adjusted nurse hours per resident per day benchmarked to the Wyoming average, with a ranking across 14 Wyoming facilities. More hours mean more direct care. The national average is about 3.5 hrs; below 3.0 is a red flag.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
vs avg

2 of 6 metrics below state avg

Standout metric Nurse Aide is +49% above state avg
Staff typeHours / Day / Residentvs state avg
Registered Nurse (RN) Info RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes. 1h 7m per day ▲ 24% State avg: 54m per day · National avg: 41m per day
LPN / LVN Info Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care. 22m per day ▼ 24% State avg: 29m per day · National avg: 52m per day
Nurse Aide Info Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life. 3h 40m per day ▲ 49% State avg: 2h 28m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day
Weekend Total Nursing Info Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours. 3h 50m per day ▲ 16% State avg: 3h 18m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day
Physical Therapist Info Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation. 0m per day ▼ 100% State avg: 3m per day · National avg: 4m per day
Weekend RN Info Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent. 50m per day ▲ 34% State avg: 37m per day · National avg: 28m per day

Capacity and availability

Avg. Length of Stay Info Average number of days residents stay at this facility, based on CMS cost report data. Shorter stays often reflect post-acute or rehab care; longer stays reflect long-term care.
503 days
Bed community size
45-bed community Rank #23 / 30Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 23rd out of 30 homes in Wyoming for Bed Count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Wyoming facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.
Walk Score
Walk Score: 13 / 100 Rank #46 / 54Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 46th out of 54 homes in Wyoming for Walk Score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average Walk Score across Wyoming facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate
60%
Rank #19 / 26Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 19th out of 26 homes in Wyoming for Occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Wyoming average, with its Statewide rank out of 26. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Lower than the Wyoming average: 74.2%
Occupied beds
27 / 45
Average occupied beds in Wyoming homes 54 beds

License Details

Facility TypeNursing Home
StatusActive
CountyFremont
License Number15142
CMS Certification Number535050

Ownership & Operating Entity

Morning Star Care Center is administered by Kaeli Rivera.

Staffing

Key information about the people who lead and staff this community.

Leadership

Director of NursingTiffany Hash

Therapy & Rehabilitation

2 services
Rehabilitation Services
Respite Care

Staffing & Medical

1 service
24-Hour Staffing

Contact Information

Fax307-332-4279

Additional Policies & Features

Pets not allowed

Contact Morning Star Care Center

Health Inspection History

Inspections since 2023
Total health inspections 4

State average N/A


Last Health inspection on Apr 2025

Total health citations
16 Rank #7 / 13Health citations — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 7th out of 13 homes in Wyoming for Health Citations. Shows this facility's total health deficiency citations benchmarked to the Wyoming State average, with a ranking across all 13 WY facilities. Lower citation counts earn a better rank.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

State average N/A

Citations per inspection
4 Rank #11 / 13Citations per inspection — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 11th out of 13 homes in Wyoming for Citations Per Inspection. Shows average deficiency citations per CMS inspection for this facility versus the Wyoming mean across 13 facilities with citation data. Lower is better.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

State average N/A


Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.

14 of 16 citations resulted from standard inspections; and 2 of 16 resulted from complaint investigations.

Breakdown of citation severity (last 3 years)
Critical health citations
0
In line with State average

State average: N/A


Serious health citations
0
In line with State average

State average: N/A

0 critical citations State average: N/A

0 serious citations State average: N/A

16 moderate citations State average: N/A

0 minor citations State average: N/A
Citations history (last 3 years)
Care Planning moderate citation Apr 10, 2025
Corrected

Quality of Care moderate citation Nov 05, 2024
Corrected

Resident Rights moderate citation Nov 05, 2024
Corrected

Infection Control moderate citation Jan 25, 2024
Corrected

Staffing Data

Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.

Total staff 53
Employees 51
Contractors 2
Staff to resident ratio 1.83 : 1
0% compared with State average

State average ratio: 0 : 0

Avg staff/day 22
Average shift 9.3 hours
0% compared with State average

State average: 0 hours

Total staff hours (quarter) 18,813

Nursing staff breakdown

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Registered Nurse

Manages medical care and health needs.

RN Staff Info All 10 RN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role. 10
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 10.2 hours
Licensed Practical Nurse

Assists with medical care and medications.

LPN Staff Info 3 total: 2 full-time employees and 1 contractor. 3
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 9.7 hours
Certified Nursing Assistant

Helps with daily care and mobility.

CNA Staff Info All 28 CNA Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role. 28
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 9.7 hours

Contractor staffing

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.

Total hours from contractors

0.2%

31 contractor hours this quarter

Speech Language Pathologist: 1 Licensed Practical Nurse: 1

Staff by category

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Certified Nursing Assistant2802810,50492100%9.7
Registered Nurse100102,71992100%10.2
Administrator4041,6826672%8.2
Dietitian4041,6699199%7.9
Licensed Practical Nurse2131,0598289%9.7
Nurse Practitioner1014685863%8.1
Mental Health Service Worker1014145964%7
Speech Language Pathologist1122995358%5.4
28 Certified Nursing Assistant
% of Days 100%
10 Registered Nurse
% of Days 100%
4 Administrator
% of Days 72%
4 Dietitian
% of Days 99%
3 Licensed Practical Nurse
% of Days 89%
1 Nurse Practitioner
% of Days 63%
1 Mental Health Service Worker
% of Days 64%
2 Speech Language Pathologist
% of Days 58%

Penalties and fines

Includes penalties issued in 2024

Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.

Source: CMS Penalties Database (Data as of Jan 2026)

Total fines amount $8K Rank #6 / 14Federal fines — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 6th out of 14 homes in Wyoming for Federal Fines. Shows this facility's cumulative CMS federal fine dollars versus the Wyoming average among facilities with fines, and where it ranks among 14 facilities in the pool. Lower total dollars mean a better rank.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
80% lower than State average

State average: $40K

Number of fines 1
63% fewer fines than State average

State average: 2.7

Payment Denials Info Serious action where Medicare and/or Medicaid temporarily stops payments for new residents until issues are fixed. 0
100% fewer payment denials than State average

State average: 0.2

Fines amount comparison
Fines amount comparison
This facility $8K
State average $40K
Penalty History

Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.

1 penalty in the past 3 years

Nov 5, 2024 · $8K

Civil Money Penalty Info Fines imposed for noncompliance, which can be assessed per day or per instance of violation. Nov 5, 2024
$8K

Last updated: Jan 2026

Quality of care over time

These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.

High-risk clinical events score Info A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline. 8.0
27% better than State average

State average: 10.9

Functional decline score Info A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence. 6.2
70% better than State average

State average: 20.8

Long-stay resident measures
Below average State avg: 3.6 Info CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased Info Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased 11.6%
42% better than State average

State average: 20.0%

Walking Ability Worsened Info Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened 0.0%
100% better than State average

State average: 19.1%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence Info Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder 7.0%
70% better than State average

State average: 23.2%

Falls with Major Injury Info Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury 3.1%
38% better than State average

State average: 4.9%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers Info Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers 17.5%
253% worse than State average

State average: 5.0%

Urinary Tract Infection Info Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection 13.4%
326% worse than State average

State average: 3.1%

Lost Too Much Weight Info Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight 7.7%
18% worse than State average

State average: 6.5%

Depressive Symptoms Info Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms 4.3%
33% better than State average

State average: 6.4%

Antipsychotic Use Info Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication 19.0%
17% better than State average

State average: 22.7%

Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 98.0%
In line with State average

State average: 94.1%

Influenza Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine 96.0%
In line with State average

State average: 94.3%

Hospitalizations per 1,000 days Info Number of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 2.24
72% worse than State average

State average: 1.30

ED visits per 1,000 days Info Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 5.23
139% worse than State average

State average: 2.19

Short-stay resident measures
Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 76.1%
In line with State average

State average: 74.6%

Antipsychotic medication increase Info Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication 18.5%
720% worse than State average

State average: 2.3%

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

25% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 2 - 3 months

Private pay

25% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 23 days

Medicaid

50% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.

Typical stay 3 - 4 years

Facility Characteristics

Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)

Total residents 29
Medicare
2
6.9% of residents
Medicaid
24
82.8% of residents
Private pay or other
3
10.3% of residents
Programs & Services
Residents Group

Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities

Active Resident Council

Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.

Finances and operations

Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.

Government
Operated by city and county authorities.
Net patient revenue Info Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
$5.3M
Net patient income Info Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
-$494.9K
Government Operated by city and county authorities.
Net patient revenue Info Net patient revenue — what the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts are subtracted from its gross charges (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It covers resident care only; money the home earns from other sources is shown separately as "Other income."
$5.3M Rank #12 / 13Revenue — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 12th out of 13 homes in Wyoming for Revenue. Shows this facility's annual revenue compared to the Wyoming average. Higher revenue generally means more resources for staffing and capital — read alongside Payroll %.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Net patient income Info Net patient income: net patient revenue minus the home's total operating expenses. A positive figure means it earns more from resident care than it spends to deliver it; a negative figure means the opposite. It excludes non-operating "other income."
-$494.9K
Other income Info Money the home earns outside of resident care — such as investments, grants, rentals and other non-operating sources (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3). It is tracked separately from net patient revenue: it is not part of that figure, and it is not included in net patient income.
$602.3K
Payroll costs Info Staff salaries plus wage-related costs — benefits such as payroll taxes, health insurance and retirement — from the home's own accounting records (CMS cost report, Worksheet A). Contract or agency labor is counted separately, under other operating costs. Rank #9 / 13Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 9th out of 13 homes in Wyoming for Payroll. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the Wyoming average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
$2.5M 48% of net patient revenue Info Payroll as a share of revenue: staff salaries and wage-related benefits divided by net patient revenue. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Rank #1 / 13Payroll % — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 1st out of 13 homes in Wyoming for Payroll %. Shows payroll as a percentage of revenue versus the Wyoming average. Below 25% may signal understaffing or heavy agency use — read with Staffing ratings.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Wyoming that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Other operating costs Info Everything it costs to run the home apart from payroll — food, utilities, supplies, maintenance, contract labor and administration. Calculated as total operating expense minus payroll (staff salaries and wage-related benefits).
$3.3M
Total costs Info The home's total operating expense for the year — all the costs of running it, salaries included (CMS cost report, Worksheet G-3).
$5.8M

Who this home usually serves

TYPE OF STAY

Mostly long-term care residents

Most residents stay for extended periods and receive ongoing daily care.

Most new residents arrive under Medicaid (50% of admissions), and a typical Medicaid stay runs around 3 - 4 years.

Admissions
16 total

Coverage residents most often arrive under.

Medicare 25%
Private pay 25%
Medicaid 50%
Discharges
20 total

Coverage residents most often leave under.

Medicare 10%
Private pay 25%
Medicaid 65%

Places of interest near Morning Star Care Center

Address 0.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Fort Washakie's city center to Morning Star Care Center's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Morning Star Care Center

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Frequently Asked Questions about Morning Star Care Center

Who is the Director of Nursing at Morning Star Care Center?

Tiffany Hash is the Director of Nursing at Morning Star Care Center.

Is Morning Star Care Center in a walkable area?

Morning Star Care Center has a walk score of 13. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

What is the license number of Morning Star Care Center?

According to WY state health department records, Morning Star Care Center's license number is 15142.

What is the occupancy rate at Morning Star Care Center?

Morning Star Care Center's occupancy is 60%.

Are pets allowed at Morning Star Care Center?

No, Morning Star Care Center has a no-pet policy.

What is the best email address for Morning Star Care Center?

The team at Morning Star Care Center can be reached at kaeli@morningstarcare.org.

Is Morning Star Care Center a government-operated facility?

Morning Star Care Center is a government-operated nursing facility in WY.

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