CMS F-tag

F551: Resident rights

Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights. Cited 282 times at 263 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#126 of 242 tags1% caused harm36 statesLatest survey Dec 23, 2025

How F551 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF551#126 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ0.7%2
  • Actual harmG–I0%0
  • No actual harmD · E · F98.6%278
  • Minimal harmB0.7%2

1% of F551 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 282Citations
  • 263Facilities cited2% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20182
  • 20195
  • 20202
  • 20216
  • 202223
  • 202369
  • 202494
  • 202581

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

Where F551 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 F551 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California4% of homes51 citations · 48 of 1,154 facilities
  • Wisconsin11% of homes42 citations · 36 of 321 facilities
  • Massachusetts9% of homes39 citations · 32 of 338 facilities
  • Texas2% of homes25 citations · 24 of 1,167 facilities
  • Maryland9% of homes21 citations · 20 of 219 facilities
  • Michigan4% of homes19 citations · 18 of 420 facilities
  • Illinois2% of homes10 citations · 10 of 665 facilities
  • Ohio1% of homes10 citations · 10 of 911 facilities
  • North Carolina2% of homes7 citations · 7 of 417 facilities
  • Washington3% of homes6 citations · 6 of 192 facilities

Top 10 of 36 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Southshore Health Care CenterRockland, MA · Report card3 F551No harm
  2. Adelphi Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterAdelphi, MD · Report card2 F551No harm
  3. Alvarado Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card2 F551No harm
  4. Avina on DivisionFond du Lac, WI · Report card2 F551No harm
  5. Bradley Estates Nursing and Rehab LLCMilwaukee, WI · Report card2 F551No harm
  6. Brandon Woods of New BedfordNew Bedford, MA · Report card2 F551No harm
  7. Charlwell House Health and RehabilitationNorwood, MA · Report card2 F551No harm
  8. Crossroads Care Center of WeyauwegaWeyauwega, WI · Report card2 F551No harm
  9. Edenbrook SheboyganSheboygan, WI · Report card2 F551No harm
  10. Encino Hospital Medical Center D/P SNFEncino, CA · Report card2 F551No harm
  11. Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation CenterSouthfield, MI · Report card2 F551No harm
  12. Fall River HealthcareFall River, MA · Report card2 F551No harm
  13. Heritage Health ServicesPort Washington, WI · Report card2 F551No harm
  14. Lakeport Post AcuteLakeport, CA · Report card2 F551No harm
  15. Mountain View Health & RehabilitationEl Paso, TX · Report card2 F551No harm

What to ask a facility about a F551 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 Dec 23, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F551 in a nursing home inspection?
F551 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's 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 F551?
F551 was cited 282 times at 263 facilities (2% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #126 of 242 tags. 2 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F551 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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