CMS F-tag

F761: Pharmacy services

Drugs and biologicals must be labeled and stored properly. Cited 13,378 times at 8,623 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#5 of 242 tags0% caused harm52 statesLatest survey Jan 20, 2026

How F761 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF761#5 of 242 tagsAmong the most cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L0.1%16
  • Actual harmG0%2
  • No actual harmD · E · F99.5%13,317
  • Minimal harmB · C0.3%43

0% of F761 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 13,378Citations
  • 8,623Facilities cited59% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20172
  • 2018186
  • 2019636
  • 2020245
  • 2021798
  • 20221,489
  • 20233,050
  • 20243,757
  • 20253,199
  • 202616

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

Where F761 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 F761 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California87% of homes1,938 citations · 1,004 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas73% of homes1,402 citations · 848 of 1,167 facilities
  • Ohio53% of homes745 citations · 482 of 911 facilities
  • Illinois61% of homes668 citations · 408 of 665 facilities
  • Pennsylvania57% of homes611 citations · 371 of 653 facilities
  • Florida55% of homes592 citations · 382 of 689 facilities
  • Indiana64% of homes505 citations · 324 of 504 facilities
  • Missouri65% of homes480 citations · 309 of 479 facilities
  • Michigan65% of homes479 citations · 273 of 420 facilities
  • New York51% of homes395 citations · 305 of 593 facilities

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

Facilities cited most often

  1. Englewood Health and RehabEnglewood, OH · Report card6 F761No harm
  2. Seal Beach Health and Rehabilitation CenterSeal Beach, CA · Report card6 F761No harm
  3. Alta Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterReno, NV · Report card5 F761No harm
  4. Archer Heights HealthcareChicago, IL · Report card5 F761No harm
  5. Augusta Nursing & Rehab CenterFishersville, VA · Report card5 F761No harm
  6. Avir at Jeffrey PlaceWaco, TX · Report card5 F761No harm
  7. Berkley East Healthcare CenterSanta Monica, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  8. Berkley West Healthcare CenterSanta Monica, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  9. Brier Oak on SunsetLos Angeles, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  10. Capital Post AcuteSacramento, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  11. Citrus Heights Post AcuteCitrus Heights, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  12. Continental Nursing & Rehab CenterChicago, IL · Report card5 F761No harm
  13. Duncanville Healthcare and Rehabilitation CenterDuncanville, TX · Report card5 F761No harm
  14. Gordon Lane Care CenterFullerton, CA · Report card5 F761No harm
  15. Ignite Medical Resort San Antonio, LLCSan Antonio, TX · Report card5 F761No harm

What to ask a facility about a F761 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 20, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F761 in a nursing home inspection?
F761 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs." (Pharmacy 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 F761?
F761 was cited 13,378 times at 8,623 facilities (59% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #5 of 242 tags. 18 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F761 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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