All states › Minnesota › Duluth › Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing
2501 Rice Lake Road Duluth, MN 55811 · St. Louis County
All 8 nursing homes in Duluth, MN (8 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 245366 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the Minnesota average of 3.2.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.56 hours per resident per day at Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing, below the Minnesota median of 4.18 (US median: 3.72). About 1.00 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.29 hours, 8% below its all-week average. 52.2% of nursing staff left within a year (Minnesota median 39.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing: Medicare and Medicaid
Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Minnesota's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on March 12, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 35 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 35 citations at Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing across 7 inspection dates, 8 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on January 17, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and resident assessment and care planning (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives" (tag F0678, level J, January 17, 2025). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
March 12, 2026 · 10 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProvide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
May 2, 2025 · 11 citations
FEnsure meals and snacks are served at times in accordance with resident’s needs, preferences, and requests. Suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks must be provided for residents who want to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
March 13, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
January 17, 2025 · 1 citation, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JProvide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
September 5, 2024 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
CConduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.
February 16, 2024 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
EDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
CAllow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
November 22, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DNot transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Questions to ask on a tour of Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on January 17, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on March 12, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Nursing staff turnover was 52.2% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
3 penalties in the last three years, including $170,619 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2025 | Fine | $14,717 |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Fine | $26,130 |
| Sep 5, 2024 | Fine | $129,772 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
2.3 mi
Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center DuluthEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 21m for patients treated and sent home
-
2.4 mi
St Lukes Hospital DuluthEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 47m for patients treated and sent home
- 2.4 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Hilltop Healthcare Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing › All nursing homes in Duluth ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Ecumen Lakeshore · Duluth · 5 stars · 4.0 mi
- Viewcrest Health Center · Duluth · 4 stars · 2.9 mi
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.