facebook tracking Hillcrest Firethorn, Lincoln NE: CMS Ratings & Inspections
Skip to content
Nursing homes near meNear me

Hillcrest Firethorn

All states › Nebraska › Lincoln › Hillcrest Firethorn

8601 Firethorn Lane Lincoln, NE 68520 · Lancaster County

(531) 739-3500

All 13 nursing homes in Lincoln, NE (12 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 72 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 285300 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Hillcrest Firethorn 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 Hillcrest Firethorn as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Nebraska average of 2.9. Inspectors issued 15 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 5 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5.

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.

Next steps

Compare with the 3 closest homes

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.85 hours per resident per day at Hillcrest Firethorn, below the Nebraska median of 3.99 (US median: 3.72). About 0.52 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.31 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 34.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Nebraska median 47.6%). That is lower than most homes in Nebraska, a sign of a steadier team.

Nursing care per resident per day 3.85 hours
Below the Nebraska median of 3.99 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.52 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.31 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 34.1% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 33.3% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 1 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds72
Residents per day 66 About 91% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceDecember 2017
Legal business nameHILLCREST FIRETHORN, LLC

Paying for care at Hillcrest Firethorn: Medicare and Medicaid

Hillcrest Firethorn 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 Nebraska'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 August 6, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 15 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 15 citations at Hillcrest Firethorn across 4 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on February 20, 2025. The most common areas cited were nutrition and dietary (4) and infection control (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level G, February 20, 2025).

August 6, 2026 · 5 citations

FEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0804 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 17, 2026)

EEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0552 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 17, 2026)

EDispose of garbage and refuse properly.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0814 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 17, 2026)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 17, 2026)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 17, 2026)

April 1, 2025 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 14, 2025)

DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0554 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 14, 2025)

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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 14, 2025)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 14, 2025)

February 20, 2025 · 2 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection

GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 10, 2025)

DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 10, 2025)

April 11, 2024 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 21, 2024)

FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 21, 2024)

DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0644 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 21, 2024)

DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0657 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 21, 2024)

Questions to ask on a tour of Hillcrest Firethorn

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on February 20, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  3. 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

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 3/5 4/5 4/5
August 2026 4/5 3/5 3/5 5/5
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Hillcrest Firethorn's Medicare star rating and updates itself.

Size and colour

Preview

Hillcrest Firethorn Medicare star rating badge

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.

Examples, sizes and help on the badge page ›

Location

Hospitals near Hillcrest Firethorn

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Holmes Lake Rehabilitation & Care Center Lincoln · 2.4 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 1/5 97 beds · Medicaid
Emerald Nursing & Rehab Brookside Lincoln · 2.9 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 173 beds · Medicaid
St. Jane de Chantal Lincoln · 3.0 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 5/5 103 beds · Medicaid
Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center Lincoln · 3.1 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 5/5 126 beds · Medicaid
Eastmont Lincoln · 3.2 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 23 beds

More nursing homes near Hillcrest Firethorn ›   All nursing homes in Lincoln ›

Compare Hillcrest Firethorn with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles

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.

Compare

https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/nebraska/lincoln/hillcrest-firethorn/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.