CMS F-tag

F693: Quality of life & care

Tube feeding must be provided safely and appropriately. Cited 2,940 times at 2,444 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#39 of 242 tags3% caused harm50 statesLatest survey Jan 16, 2026

How F693 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF693#39 of 242 tagsOften cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K0.9%26
  • Actual harmG · H1.8%53
  • No actual harmD · E · F97.1%2,856
  • Minimal harmB0.2%5

3% of F693 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 2,940Citations
  • 2,444Facilities cited17% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 201821
  • 2019107
  • 202028
  • 2021127
  • 2022361
  • 2023744
  • 2024863
  • 2025686
  • 20263

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

Where F693 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 F693 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California32% of homes505 citations · 371 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas22% of homes316 citations · 258 of 1,167 facilities
  • Illinois31% of homes250 citations · 203 of 665 facilities
  • Ohio17% of homes178 citations · 159 of 911 facilities
  • Florida19% of homes157 citations · 134 of 689 facilities
  • Michigan23% of homes130 citations · 96 of 420 facilities
  • Pennsylvania16% of homes129 citations · 103 of 653 facilities
  • Indiana19% of homes119 citations · 94 of 504 facilities
  • Louisiana23% of homes78 citations · 62 of 264 facilities
  • Missouri13% of homes76 citations · 62 of 479 facilities

Top 10 of 50 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Aperion Care Arbors Michigan CityMichigan City, IN · Report card5 F693No harm
  2. Beachwood Post-Acute & RehabSanta Monica, CA · Report card5 F693No harm
  3. Burbank Rehabilitation CenterBurbank, IL · Report card5 F693No harm
  4. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card5 F693No harm
  5. Briarcrest Nursing CenterBell Gardens, CA · Report card4 F693No harm
  6. Ferncrest Manor Living CenterNew Orleans, LA · Report card4 F693No harm
  7. Green Valley Healthcare and Rehabilitation CenterFort Worth, TX · Report card4 F693No harm
  8. Mira Vista CourtFort Worth, TX · Report card4 F693No harm
  9. Newport Subacute Healthcare CenterCosta Mesa, CA · Report card4 F693No harm
  10. Seal Beach Health and Rehabilitation CenterSeal Beach, CA · Report card4 F693No harm
  11. Seattle Medical Post Acute CareSeattle, WA · Report card4 F693No harm
  12. Sharon Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card4 F693No harm
  13. Sherman Village HccNorth Hollywood, CA · Report card4 F693No harm
  14. St. Teresa Nursing & Rehab CenterEl Paso, TX · Report card4 F693No harm
  15. Sunny Hills Post AcuteLA Mirada, CA · Report card4 F693No harm

What to ask a facility about a F693 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 16, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F693 in a nursing home inspection?
F693 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube." (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 F693?
F693 was cited 2,940 times at 2,444 facilities (17% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #39 of 242 tags. 79 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F693 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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