CMS F-tag

F552: Resident rights

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments. Cited 1,553 times at 1,318 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#61 of 242 tags1% caused harm50 statesLatest survey Jan 15, 2026

How F552 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF552#61 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyK0.1%1
  • Actual harmG0.5%7
  • No actual harmD · E · F99.1%1,539
  • Minimal harmB · C0.4%6

1% of F552 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,553Citations
  • 1,318Facilities cited9% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20186
  • 201930
  • 20208
  • 202149
  • 2022127
  • 2023315
  • 2024473
  • 2025540
  • 20265

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

Where F552 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 F552 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California31% of homes475 citations · 357 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas11% of homes140 citations · 130 of 1,167 facilities
  • Washington46% of homes130 citations · 88 of 192 facilities
  • Massachusetts25% of homes99 citations · 83 of 338 facilities
  • Oregon41% of homes61 citations · 52 of 127 facilities
  • Pennsylvania7% of homes45 citations · 43 of 653 facilities
  • Arizona29% of homes44 citations · 41 of 139 facilities
  • Illinois5% of homes37 citations · 36 of 665 facilities
  • Michigan8% of homes35 citations · 35 of 420 facilities
  • Nevada35% of homes35 citations · 23 of 65 facilities

Top 10 of 50 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Plaza Healthcare CenterSanta Ana, CA · Report card5 F552No harm
  2. Cheney Care CenterCheney, WA · Report card4 F552No harm
  3. Kei-Ai Los Angeles Healthcare CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card4 F552No harm
  4. Linden Grove Health Care CenterPuyallup, WA · Report card4 F552No harm
  5. Olympic View Post AcutePort Angeles, WA · Report card4 F552No harm
  6. Sunland Post AcuteSunland, CA · Report card4 F552No harm
  7. Aria of BrookfieldBrookfield, WI · Report card3 F552No harm
  8. Avalon Villa Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card3 F552No harm
  9. Bailey-Boushay HouseSeattle, WA · Report card3 F552No harm
  10. Bear Mountain at SudburySudbury, MA · Report card3 F552No harm
  11. Bridgeview Post AcuteYuba City, CA · Report card3 F552No harm
  12. California Post AcuteLos Angeles, CA · Report card3 F552No harm
  13. California Post-Acute CareLynwood, CA · Report card3 F552No harm
  14. Care One at RandolphRandolph, MA · Report card3 F552No harm
  15. Chestnut Ridge Post Acute LLCGlendale, CA · Report card3 F552No harm

What to ask a facility about a F552 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 15, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F552 in a nursing home inspection?
F552 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments." (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 F552?
F552 was cited 1,553 times at 1,318 facilities (9% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #61 of 242 tags. 8 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F552 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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