CMS F-tag

F555: Resident rights

Honor the resident's right to choose his or her attending physician. Cited 53 times at 53 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#168 of 242 tags0% caused harm21 statesLatest survey Dec 11, 2025

How F555 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF555#168 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
  • Actual harmG–I0%0
  • No actual harmD · E · F94.3%50
  • Minimal harmB · C5.7%3

0% of F555 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 53Citations
  • 53Facilities cited0% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20182
  • 20191
  • 20213
  • 20222
  • 20239
  • 202422
  • 202514

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

Where F555 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 F555 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California1% of homes12 citations · 12 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas1% of homes7 citations · 7 of 1,167 facilities
  • Colorado2% of homes4 citations · 4 of 208 facilities
  • Wisconsin1% of homes4 citations · 4 of 321 facilities
  • Ohio0% of homes4 citations · 4 of 911 facilities
  • Washington2% of homes3 citations · 3 of 192 facilities
  • Illinois0% of homes2 citations · 2 of 665 facilities
  • Puerto Rico33% of homes2 citations · 2 of 6 facilities
  • Michigan0% of homes2 citations · 2 of 420 facilities
  • Virginia1% of homes2 citations · 2 of 285 facilities

Top 10 of 21 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Alderwood ManorSpokane, WA · Report card1 F555No harm
  2. Anaheim Healthcare Center, LLCAnaheim, CA · Report card1 F555No harm
  3. Avalon Health & Rehabilitation Center - PascoPasco, WA · Report card1 F555No harm
  4. Avir at CaldwellCaldwell, TX · Report card1 F555No harm
  5. Avir at OremHouston, TX · Report card1 F555No harm
  6. Bayside of Poquoson Health and RehabPoquoson, VA · Report card1 F555No harm
  7. Beacon Harbor Healthcare and RehabilitationRockwall, TX · Report card1 F555No harm
  8. Belmont Care and RehabilitationPortland, OR · Report card1 F555No harm
  9. Careone at MoorestownMoorestown, NJ · Report card1 F555No harm
  10. Centro de Cuidado Prolongado San LucasRio Piedras, PR · Report card1 F555No harm
  11. Colonial Rehabilitation and Nursing, LLCColorado Springs, CO · Report card1 F555No harm
  12. Creekside Village Rehabilitation and Nursing LLCFort Collins, CO · Report card1 F555No harm
  13. Crestview CourtCedar Hill, TX · Report card1 F555No harm
  14. Cupertino Healthcare & Wellness CenterCupertino, CA · Report card1 F555No harm
  15. Country Care ManorLA Vernia, TX · Report card1 F555No harm

What to ask a facility about a F555 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 11, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F555 in a nursing home inspection?
F555 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Honor the resident's right to choose his or her attending physician." (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 F555?
F555 was cited 53 times at 53 facilities (0% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #168 of 242 tags. 0 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F555 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.

Estimate costs, decode inspections, and benchmark a facility with the rest of the toolkit.

All free tools
Nursing Home Report CardNursing Home Star Rating Lookup & Safety Report CardLook up any Medicare-certified nursing home and get a plain-English safety report card: star ratings, inspection citations, fines, staffing, and turnover compared with state peers.Overall, inspection, staffing, and quality stars vs. the state averageEvery health citation grouped by category with severity explainedFines, payment denials, abuse flags, and special-focus statusTry it free Medicare 100-Day CalculatorMedicare Skilled Nursing Coverage CalculatorSee how many days Medicare pays for rehab or skilled nursing, what the daily copay is after day 20, and when the 100-day benefit runs out.Day-by-day breakdown of what Medicare coversThe 2026 daily coinsurance for days 21–100The date your benefit days run outTry it free Care Needs AssessmentCare Needs Assessment: Home Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Nursing HomeAnswer ten questions about daily needs, health, memory, and budget to see which level of care fits your parent, then browse matching providers near you.A recommended care level with the reasons behind itWhat each option typically costs and who paysMatching providers near your ZIP codeTry it free

Compare the facilities on your shortlist

Put up to three nursing homes side by side with star ratings, staffing, inspection results, and penalties from the latest CMS data. Free, no account needed.

Compare facilitiesBrowse by state

Own or manage a facility?

Claim your free listing to correct details, reply to reviews, and show your verified badge.

Claim your facility

Read our latest articles