CMS F-tag

F697: Quality of life & care

Residents must receive pain management. Cited 3,211 times at 2,685 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#34 of 242 tags22% caused harm51 statesLatest survey Jan 15, 2026

How F697 shows up in inspections

#34 of 242 tagsOften cited

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

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ · K2.4%77
Actual harmG · H20.1%644
No actual harmD · E77.5%2,490
Minimal harmA–C0%0

22% of F697 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

3,211Citations
2,685Facilities cited18% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20171
201859
2019151
202037
2021138
2022301
2023802
2024904
2025814
20264

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

Where F697 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 F697 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

California37% of homes577 citations · 426 of 1,154 facilities
Illinois32% of homes272 citations · 212 of 665 facilities
Ohio23% of homes246 citations · 206 of 911 facilities
Pennsylvania20% of homes162 citations · 132 of 653 facilities
Maryland49% of homes141 citations · 108 of 219 facilities
Indiana20% of homes127 citations · 101 of 504 facilities
Virginia34% of homes122 citations · 98 of 285 facilities
Texas10% of homes121 citations · 117 of 1,167 facilities
Missouri19% of homes112 citations · 91 of 479 facilities
Florida12% of homes92 citations · 85 of 689 facilities

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

Facilities cited most often

Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing CenterMontebello, CA · Report card6 F6973 with harm
The Rehabilitation Center of North HillsNorth Hills, CA · Report card5 F6972 with harm
Arbor Post AcuteChico, CA · Report card5 F6971 with harm
Archer Heights HealthcareChicago, IL · Report card4 F6973 with harm
LA Bella of RochelleRochelle, IL · Report card4 F6973 with harm
Odin Health and Rehab CenterOdin, IL · Report card4 F6973 with harm
Allison Pointe Healthcare CenterIndianapolis, IN · Report card4 F6971 with harm
Evercare at UniversityEdwardsville, IL · Report card4 F6971 with harm
Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card4 F6971 with harm
Elk Grove Post AcuteElk Grove, CA · Report card4 F697No harm
South Shore Health & Rehabilitation CenterGary, IN · Report card4 F697No harm
Strafford Care CenterStrafford, MO · Report card4 F697No harm
Goldwater Care BloomingtonBloomington, IL · Report card3 F6972 with harm
Greater Southside Health and RehabilitationDes Moines, IA · Report card3 F6972 with harm
Lutheran Home for the AgedArlington Hts, IL · Report card3 F6972 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F697 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 15, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

What is F697 in a nursing home inspection?

F697 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services." (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 F697?

F697 was cited 3,211 times at 2,685 facilities (18% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #34 of 242 tags. 721 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F697 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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