CMS F-tag

F686: Quality of life & care

Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers (bedsores). Cited 8,731 times at 5,709 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#13 of 242 tags23% caused harm52 statesLatest survey Jan 9, 2026

How F686 shows up in inspections

#13 of 242 tagsVery often cited

Rarely cited
Occasionally cited
Often cited
Very often cited
Among the most cited

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ · K3.2%278
Actual harmG · H19.9%1,736
No actual harmD · E76.8%6,709
Minimal harmB0.1%8

23% of F686 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

8,731Citations
5,709Facilities cited39% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20171
201875
2019283
2020110
2021377
2022953
20232,338
20242,557
20252,033
20264

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

Where F686 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 F686 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

Illinois71% of homes1,018 citations · 473 of 665 facilities
California50% of homes1,008 citations · 578 of 1,154 facilities
Ohio54% of homes810 citations · 492 of 911 facilities
Michigan65% of homes489 citations · 272 of 420 facilities
Pennsylvania43% of homes424 citations · 283 of 653 facilities
Texas26% of homes379 citations · 309 of 1,167 facilities
Wisconsin61% of homes369 citations · 197 of 321 facilities
Indiana43% of homes346 citations · 219 of 504 facilities
Missouri38% of homes285 citations · 183 of 479 facilities
Virginia54% of homes233 citations · 153 of 285 facilities

Top 10 of 52 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

Inland Valley Care and Rehabilitation CenterPomona, CA · Report card9 F686No harm
Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card9 F686No harm
Nexus at PalosPalos Hills, IL · Report card8 F6865 with harm
Lakeview Post AcuteFlorissant, MO · Report card7 F6863 with harm
Landmark of Richton Park Rehab & Nsg CtrRichton Park, IL · Report card7 F6863 with harm
Ryze on the AvenueChicago, IL · Report card7 F6862 with harm
Alden Lakeland Rehab & HccChicago, IL · Report card7 F6861 with harm
Muskego Health and Rehabilitation CenterMuskego, WI · Report card7 F6861 with harm
Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card7 F6861 with harm
Antelope Valley Care CenterLancaster, CA · Report card7 F686No harm
Imboden Creek Senior LivingDecatur, IL · Report card7 F686No harm
Seal Beach Health and Rehabilitation CenterSeal Beach, CA · Report card7 F686No harm
Stellar Care CenterWoodsfield, OH · Report card7 F686No harm
The Rehabilitation Center of North HillsNorth Hills, CA · Report card7 F686No harm
Aria of BrookfieldBrookfield, WI · Report card6 F6865 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F686 citation

What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
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 9, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

What is F686 in a nursing home inspection?

F686 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing." (Quality of life & care). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.

How common is F686?

F686 was cited 8,731 times at 5,709 facilities (39% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #13 of 242 tags. 2,014 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F686 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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