CMS did not publish an overall star rating for this hospital; hospitals that report too few quality measures are not rated.
Source: CMS Care Compare, October 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Official links: Website for Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital (opens the hospital's site)
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Quick answers about Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 1 hr 44 min in the Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital emergency room (the average across Iowa hospitals is 2 hr 8 min). For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (712) 472-2591. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital?
The main phone number for Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is (712) 472-2591, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (712) 472-2591What is the address of Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital?
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is at 801 S Greene St, Rock Rapids, IA 51246.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of October 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital spend a median of 1 hour 44 minutes there. That is 24 minutes shorter than the average across Iowa hospitals (2 hours 8 minutes).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Iowa · Other Critical Access hospitals in Iowa · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.9% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted). Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
What insurance does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital accept?
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 161321). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
2027 Marketplace plans in Iowa that list this hospital
| Insurer | Plans in network | Network | Network tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avera Health Plans | 10 of 10 plans | CONNECTPLUS | Connectplus |
| Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield | 7 of 10 plans | WELLMARK-BLUE-HMO-NETWORK | Wellmark-Blue-Hmo-Network |
2027 plan year, individual Marketplace (ACA) plans only.Health insurance in Iowa
Plans that include this hospital: Wellmark Bronze HDHP HMO HSA Qualified, Wellmark Bronze Traditional HMO, Wellmark Gold Traditional HMO, Wellmark Silver Traditional HMO, Wellmark Standard Bronze HMO, Wellmark Standard Gold HMO Compare plans
Adults in Iowa qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which Iowa Medicaid plans it takes.
What insurance does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital accept?
In the 2027 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan data (insurer network files loaded November 4, 2026), Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is in network for 2 Marketplace insurers in Iowa: Avera Health Plans (10 of 10 plans) and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (7 of 10 plans). This covers Marketplace (ACA) plans only, not Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or employer plans. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital take Medicare?
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is a Medicare-certified hospital (CMS Certification Number 161321), according to CMS hospital data. Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this page does not cover; check with your plan before you get care.
Does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital accept Avera Health Plans?
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is in network for 10 of 10 plans that Avera Health Plans sells on the Iowa Marketplace in 2027, according to Avera Health Plans's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Does Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital accept Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital is in network for 7 of 10 plans that Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield sells on the Iowa Marketplace in 2027, according to Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's network file loaded November 4, 2026. Not every Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield plan includes it. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change, so confirm with the insurer before you get care.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2024 – Jun 2025
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| All conditions (hospital-wide)Medicare patients back in any hospital within 30 days of leaving. | 16.3% | 16.2% | Not compared |
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 914 patients. | 104 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 80 patients. | 222 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 108 patients. | 201 min | 287 min |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 88 patients. | 81% | 77% |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. About the data.
Care after a stay at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.8mi Lyon Specialty Care Rock Rapids, IA · 45 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 2 of 5
- 10mi Parkview Manor Nursing Home Ellsworth, MN · 37 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars
- 11mi Tuff Memorial Home Hills, MN · 48 beds Medicare overall 4 of 5 stars
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 18mi Hegg Home Health CareRock Valley, IA
- 24mi Sanford Home Health and Hospice SheldonSheldon, IA · 77% would recommend
- 24mi Family First Home Care of IowaSheldon, IA Not rated
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 24mi Sanford Home Health and Hospice SheldonSheldon, IA · 85% would recommend Not rated
- 24mi Sioux Center Health Home Care and HospiceSioux Center, IA · 83% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
11 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 7 specialties.
Find doctors in Rock Rapids
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Rock Rapids, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Jun 2025
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Iowa hospital finances.
Who owns Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Avera Mckennan, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1925.
26 doctors and other clinicians list Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Jun 2023 · Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital (EIN 42-0805543)
As filed with the IRS by Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Mental health: Lyon is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 17.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Iowa earn a median $78,630 a year. Healthcare salaries in Iowa.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Iowa shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Iowa
Registered nurses across Iowa (all employers) earned a median of $78,630 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in IowaNurse Practitioner salary in IowaRespiratory Therapist salary in IowaHealthcare salaries in Iowa
Cite this data
Writing about Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.