CMS F-tag

F727: Nursing & physician services

A registered nurse must be on duty 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cited 2,153 times at 1,647 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#49 of 242 tags0% caused harm48 statesLatest survey Jan 8, 2026

How F727 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF727#49 of 242 tagsOften cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · L0.2%5
  • Actual harmG–I0%0
  • No actual harmD · E · F97.8%2,106
  • Minimal harmB · C2%42

0% of F727 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 2,153Citations
  • 1,647Facilities cited11% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20186
  • 201939
  • 202017
  • 202158
  • 2022243
  • 2023689
  • 2024662
  • 2025438
  • 20261

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

Where F727 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 F727 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Illinois22% of homes319 citations · 147 of 665 facilities
  • Texas17% of homes273 citations · 195 of 1,167 facilities
  • California12% of homes172 citations · 136 of 1,154 facilities
  • Missouri26% of homes167 citations · 125 of 479 facilities
  • Ohio14% of homes158 citations · 132 of 911 facilities
  • Oklahoma25% of homes85 citations · 71 of 282 facilities
  • Indiana14% of homes82 citations · 69 of 504 facilities
  • North Carolina16% of homes77 citations · 65 of 417 facilities
  • Virginia18% of homes62 citations · 51 of 285 facilities
  • Kansas16% of homes57 citations · 46 of 294 facilities

Top 10 of 48 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Arcadia Care WatsekaWatseka, IL · Report card11 F727No harm
  2. Decatur Rehab & Health Care CtDecatur, IL · Report card8 F727No harm
  3. Evercare of SwanseaSwansea, IL · Report card8 F727No harm
  4. Axiom Healthcare of HarrisburgHarrisburg, IL · Report card7 F727No harm
  5. Evercare of LebanonLebanon, IL · Report card7 F727No harm
  6. Shelbyville Healthcare & Senior LivingShelbyville, IL · Report card7 F727No harm
  7. The Haven of MeadowbrookChampaign, IL · Report card7 F727No harm
  8. Axiom Healthcare of West FrankfortWest Frankfort, IL · Report card6 F727No harm
  9. Eastview Healthcare & Senior LivingSullivan, IL · Report card6 F727No harm
  10. Effingham Healthcare & Senior LivingEffingham, IL · Report card6 F727No harm
  11. Flanagan Rehabilitation & HccFlanagan, IL · Report card6 F727No harm
  12. Nokomis Hc & Senior LivingNokomis, IL · Report card6 F727No harm
  13. Evervella of SwanseaSwansea, IL · Report card5 F727No harm
  14. Palm Garden of MattoonMattoon, IL · Report card5 F727No harm
  15. Appleton City ManorAppleton City, MO · Report card4 F727No harm

What to ask a facility about a F727 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 8, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F727 in a nursing home inspection?
F727 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis." (Nursing & physician services). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F727?
F727 was cited 2,153 times at 1,647 facilities (11% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #49 of 242 tags. 5 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F727 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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