CMS F-tag

F700: Quality of life & care

Bed rails may only be used after assessment, consent, and with safety checks. Cited 1,673 times at 1,506 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#57 of 242 tags3% caused harm49 statesLatest survey Dec 19, 2025

How F700 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF700#57 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L2.3%39
  • Actual harmG · H0.5%8
  • No actual harmD · E · F97.1%1,625
  • Minimal harmC0.1%1

3% of F700 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,673Citations
  • 1,506Facilities cited10% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 201812
  • 201965
  • 202042
  • 202177
  • 2022216
  • 2023348
  • 2024524
  • 2025389

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

Where F700 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 F700 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California21% of homes289 citations · 237 of 1,154 facilities
  • Missouri39% of homes224 citations · 189 of 479 facilities
  • Texas9% of homes108 citations · 102 of 1,167 facilities
  • Virginia21% of homes78 citations · 61 of 285 facilities
  • Oklahoma25% of homes77 citations · 70 of 282 facilities
  • Pennsylvania9% of homes70 citations · 59 of 653 facilities
  • Florida7% of homes53 citations · 49 of 689 facilities
  • Illinois7% of homes51 citations · 45 of 665 facilities
  • Louisiana18% of homes49 citations · 47 of 264 facilities
  • Minnesota13% of homes49 citations · 45 of 337 facilities

Top 10 of 49 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Newport Subacute Healthcare CenterCosta Mesa, CA · Report card4 F700No harm
  2. Buena Park Nursing CenterBuena Park, CA · Report card3 F700No harm
  3. Greenwood Center for Rehabilitation and NursingLewistown, PA · Report card3 F700No harm
  4. Greendale Park Nursing and RehabGreendale, WI · Report card3 F700No harm
  5. Kindred Hospital Brea D/P SNFBrea, CA · Report card3 F700No harm
  6. Kirkland Court Health and Rehabilitation CenterAmarillo, TX · Report card3 F700No harm
  7. LA Palma Nursing CenterAnaheim, CA · Report card3 F700No harm
  8. Monmouth Rehab and NursingMonmouth, IL · Report card3 F700No harm
  9. Stanley Healthcare CenterWestminster, CA · Report card3 F700No harm
  10. The Laurels of Bon AirBon Air, VA · Report card3 F700No harm
  11. Alcester Care and Rehab Center, INCAlcester, SD · Report card2 F7001 with harm
  12. Anaheim Healthcare Center, LLCAnaheim, CA · Report card2 F700No harm
  13. Anaheim PointAnaheim, CA · Report card2 F700No harm
  14. Arbor View Care CenterArvada, CO · Report card2 F700No harm
  15. Arrowhead Senior Living CommunityOsage Beach, MO · Report card2 F700No harm

What to ask a facility about a F700 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 19, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F700 in a nursing home inspection?
F700 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail." (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 F700?
F700 was cited 1,673 times at 1,506 facilities (10% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #57 of 242 tags. 47 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F700 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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