CMS F-tag

F550: Resident rights

Residents must be treated with dignity and respect. Cited 8,999 times at 6,264 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#8 of 242 tags2% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 16, 2026

How F550 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF550#8 of 242 tagsAmong the most cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L0.2%14
  • Actual harmG · H · I1.6%142
  • No actual harmD · E · F97.6%8,781
  • Minimal harmB · C0.7%62

2% of F550 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 8,999Citations
  • 6,264Facilities cited43% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20173
  • 201899
  • 2019449
  • 2020136
  • 2021442
  • 2022845
  • 20232,142
  • 20242,693
  • 20252,182
  • 20268

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F550 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F550 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California68% of homes1,425 citations · 780 of 1,154 facilities
  • Illinois58% of homes655 citations · 388 of 665 facilities
  • Texas40% of homes621 citations · 465 of 1,167 facilities
  • Ohio46% of homes566 citations · 419 of 911 facilities
  • Michigan58% of homes407 citations · 245 of 420 facilities
  • Pennsylvania37% of homes335 citations · 240 of 653 facilities
  • Missouri48% of homes330 citations · 228 of 479 facilities
  • Iowa51% of homes320 citations · 198 of 388 facilities
  • New York40% of homes303 citations · 237 of 593 facilities
  • Florida33% of homes282 citations · 227 of 689 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Bay Crest Care CenterTorrance, CA · Report card9 F550No harm
  2. Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card8 F550No harm
  3. Valley Palms Care CenterN Hollywood, CA · Report card8 F550No harm
  4. Arbor Glen Care CenterGlendora, CA · Report card7 F550No harm
  5. Park Avenue Healthcare & Wellness CenterPomona, CA · Report card7 F550No harm
  6. Reunion Plaza Senior Care and Rehabilitation CenteTexarkana, TX · Report card7 F550No harm
  7. Beloved Health and Rehabilitation CenterHannibal, MO · Report card6 F5502 with harm
  8. Avalon Villa Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  9. Hampton Post AcuteStockton, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  10. Kennedy Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  11. Maclay Healthcare CenterSylmar, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  12. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  13. Medilodge of SouthfieldSouthfield, MI · Report card6 F550No harm
  14. New Vista Post-Acute Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card6 F550No harm
  15. Northbrook Healthcare and Rehabilitation CenterCedar Rapids, IA · Report card6 F550No harm

What to ask a facility about a F550 citation

  1. What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
  2. What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
  3. Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
  4. If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Jan 16, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F550 in a nursing home inspection?
F550 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights." (Resident rights). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F550?
F550 was cited 8,999 times at 6,264 facilities (43% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #8 of 242 tags. 156 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F550 citation mean the facility is unsafe?
Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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