CMS F-tag

F636: Assessment & care planning

A full assessment (MDS) of each resident within 14 days and at least yearly. Cited 1,444 times at 1,328 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#63 of 242 tags0% caused harm51 statesLatest survey Dec 22, 2025

How F636 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF636#63 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
  • Actual harmG0.1%1
  • No actual harmD · E · F94.7%1,367
  • Minimal harmB · C5.3%76

0% of F636 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,444Citations
  • 1,328Facilities cited9% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20171
  • 201829
  • 201972
  • 202028
  • 202191
  • 2022241
  • 2023371
  • 2024361
  • 2025250

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

Where F636 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 F636 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California14% of homes188 citations · 165 of 1,154 facilities
  • Ohio10% of homes99 citations · 93 of 911 facilities
  • Texas8% of homes99 citations · 97 of 1,167 facilities
  • Missouri17% of homes93 citations · 80 of 479 facilities
  • Pennsylvania8% of homes65 citations · 55 of 653 facilities
  • North Carolina14% of homes64 citations · 58 of 417 facilities
  • Oklahoma19% of homes63 citations · 54 of 282 facilities
  • Oregon34% of homes52 citations · 43 of 127 facilities
  • Florida7% of homes48 citations · 48 of 689 facilities
  • Massachusetts13% of homes44 citations · 43 of 338 facilities

Top 10 of 51 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Eden Valley Care CenterSoledad, CA · Report card3 F636No harm
  2. Fieser Nursing CenterFenton, MO · Report card3 F636No harm
  3. Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare CenteAltoona, PA · Report card3 F636No harm
  4. Mescalero Care CenterMescalero, NM · Report card3 F636No harm
  5. Parkway Health Care CenterKansas City, MO · Report card3 F636No harm
  6. Alderwood Post Acute & RehabilitationLynnwood, WA · Report card2 F636No harm
  7. Alhambra Post AcuteMartinez, CA · Report card2 F636No harm
  8. Alvarado Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card2 F636No harm
  9. Ashby Care CenterBerkeley, CA · Report card2 F636No harm
  10. Auburn Post AcuteAuburn, WA · Report card2 F636No harm
  11. Avantara Lincoln ParkChicago, IL · Report card2 F636No harm
  12. Artesia Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, LLCArtesia, NM · Report card2 F636No harm
  13. Avamere Rehabilitation of LebanonLebanon, OR · Report card2 F636No harm
  14. Azria Health Prairie RidgeMediapolis, IA · Report card2 F636No harm
  15. Bailey-Boushay HouseSeattle, WA · Report card2 F636No harm

What to ask a facility about a F636 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 22, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F636 in a nursing home inspection?
F636 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months." (Assessment & care planning). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F636?
F636 was cited 1,444 times at 1,328 facilities (9% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #63 of 242 tags. 1 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F636 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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