CMS F-tag

F656: Assessment & care planning

A care plan that covers every identified need, with measurable goals and timetables. Cited 14,820 times at 8,451 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#4 of 242 tags3% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 21, 2026

How F656 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF656#4 of 242 tagsAmong the most cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L1.6%240
  • Actual harmG · H1.9%276
  • No actual harmD · E · F96%14,227
  • Minimal harmB · C0.5%77

3% of F656 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 14,820Citations
  • 8,451Facilities cited58% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20176
  • 2018234
  • 2019721
  • 2020254
  • 2021655
  • 20221,581
  • 20233,667
  • 20244,191
  • 20253,506
  • 20265

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

Where F656 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 F656 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California84% of homes2,658 citations · 975 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas76% of homes1,701 citations · 889 of 1,167 facilities
  • Pennsylvania60% of homes674 citations · 394 of 653 facilities
  • Ohio46% of homes587 citations · 418 of 911 facilities
  • New York64% of homes578 citations · 380 of 593 facilities
  • Massachusetts85% of homes577 citations · 287 of 338 facilities
  • Florida50% of homes482 citations · 347 of 689 facilities
  • Louisiana77% of homes432 citations · 203 of 264 facilities
  • Missouri59% of homes418 citations · 281 of 479 facilities
  • Georgia70% of homes404 citations · 247 of 354 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card13 F656No harm
  2. Ararat Nursing FacilityMission Hills, CA · Report card11 F6561 with harm
  3. Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing CenterMontebello, CA · Report card11 F656No harm
  4. Santa Fe Heights Healthcare Center, LLCCompton, CA · Report card11 F656No harm
  5. Maclay Healthcare CenterSylmar, CA · Report card10 F656No harm
  6. Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card10 F656No harm
  7. Colonial Gardens Nursing HomePico Rivera, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  8. East Terrace Rehabilitation & Wellness Centre, LPLos Angeles, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  9. Golden Rose Care CenterPasadena, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  10. Holly Hill HouseSulphur, LA · Report card9 F656No harm
  11. Kern River Transitional CareBakersfield, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  12. Mesa Glen Care CenterGlendora, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  13. Park Avenue Healthcare & Wellness CenterPomona, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  14. The Rehabilitation Center of North HillsNorth Hills, CA · Report card9 F656No harm
  15. Valley Vista Nursing and Transitional Care LLCNorth Hollywood, CA · Report card9 F656No harm

What to ask a facility about a F656 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 21, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F656 in a nursing home inspection?
F656 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured." (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 F656?
F656 was cited 14,820 times at 8,451 facilities (58% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #4 of 242 tags. 516 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F656 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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