CMS F-tag

F603: Abuse, neglect & exploitation

Protect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room). Cited 156 times at 152 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#153 of 242 tags25% caused harm36 statesLatest survey Dec 23, 2025

How F603 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF603#153 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K9%14
  • Actual harmG · H16%25
  • No actual harmD · E · F75%117
  • Minimal harmA–C0%0

25% of F603 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 156Citations
  • 152Facilities cited1% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20191
  • 20201
  • 20218
  • 202210
  • 202328
  • 202462
  • 202546

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

Where F603 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 F603 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Connecticut9% of homes17 citations · 17 of 190 facilities
  • Texas1% of homes16 citations · 16 of 1,167 facilities
  • Colorado5% of homes12 citations · 11 of 208 facilities
  • Ohio1% of homes11 citations · 11 of 911 facilities
  • California1% of homes10 citations · 9 of 1,154 facilities
  • Illinois1% of homes9 citations · 9 of 665 facilities
  • New Jersey1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 344 facilities
  • Utah5% of homes5 citations · 5 of 96 facilities
  • Massachusetts1% of homes5 citations · 5 of 338 facilities
  • Maryland2% of homes5 citations · 5 of 219 facilities

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

Facilities cited most often

  1. Pleasant View Nursing HomeMonroe, WI · Report card2 F6031 with harm
  2. Brookshire Post AcuteDenver, CO · Report card2 F603No harm
  3. Casa de Oro CenterLas Cruces, NM · Report card2 F603No harm
  4. Oak Grove Post AcuteStockton, CA · Report card2 F603No harm
  5. Allaire Rehab & NursingFreehold, NJ · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  6. Belle Care Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterTrenton, NJ · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  7. Birchwood Park RehabilitationVirginia Beach, VA · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  8. Buffalo Prairie Center for Rehab and HealthcareBuffalo, MO · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  9. Bella Terra St GeorgeSt. George, UT · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  10. Carlyle PlaceMacon, GA · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  11. Crestpark Stuttgart, LLCStuttgart, AR · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  12. Grandview Rehabilitation and Healthcare CenterNew Britain, CT · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  13. Helia Healthcare of EnergyEnergy, IL · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  14. Heritage Care CenterSaint Louis, MO · Report card1 F6031 with harm
  15. Hudson Valley Rehabilitation & Extended Care CtrHighland, NY · Report card1 F6031 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F603 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 F603 in a nursing home inspection?
F603 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Protect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room)." (Abuse, neglect & exploitation). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F603?
F603 was cited 156 times at 152 facilities (1% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #153 of 242 tags. 39 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F603 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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