CMS F-tag

F770: Administration

Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents. Cited 929 times at 841 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#84 of 242 tags3% caused harm46 statesLatest survey Jan 9, 2026

How F770 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF770#84 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K1.5%14
  • Actual harmG · H1.8%17
  • No actual harmD · E · F96.4%896
  • Minimal harmB · C0.2%2

3% of F770 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 929Citations
  • 841Facilities cited6% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20171
  • 201822
  • 201950
  • 202018
  • 202139
  • 202296
  • 2023229
  • 2024260
  • 2025213
  • 20261

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

Where F770 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 F770 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • Ohio13% of homes135 citations · 116 of 911 facilities
  • California7% of homes85 citations · 76 of 1,154 facilities
  • Oklahoma25% of homes78 citations · 70 of 282 facilities
  • Texas6% of homes72 citations · 67 of 1,167 facilities
  • Pennsylvania7% of homes51 citations · 47 of 653 facilities
  • Virginia15% of homes47 citations · 43 of 285 facilities
  • Indiana7% of homes45 citations · 37 of 504 facilities
  • Michigan8% of homes40 citations · 34 of 420 facilities
  • Florida5% of homes38 citations · 37 of 689 facilities
  • Maryland15% of homes37 citations · 32 of 219 facilities

Top 10 of 46 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Carecore at Mary ScottDayton, OH · Report card3 F770No harm
  2. Cedarwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare CenterTyrone, PA · Report card3 F770No harm
  3. Garden Court Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterDayton, OH · Report card3 F770No harm
  4. Las Flores Convalescent HospitalGardena, CA · Report card3 F770No harm
  5. Medilodge of HowellHowell, MI · Report card3 F770No harm
  6. Sellersburg Healthcare CenterSellersburg, IN · Report card3 F770No harm
  7. Rocky Mountain Care - Cottage on VineMurray, UT · Report card2 F7701 with harm
  8. Advanced Center for Nursing & RehabilitationNew Haven, CT · Report card2 F770No harm
  9. Alderwood Park Health and Rehab of CascadiaBellingham, WA · Report card2 F770No harm
  10. Arbors at CarrollCarroll, OH · Report card2 F770No harm
  11. Arcadia Care AledoAledo, IL · Report card2 F770No harm
  12. Arbor Lake Skilled Nursing & RehabilitationFarmerville, LA · Report card2 F770No harm
  13. Arcadia Care ToulonToulon, IL · Report card2 F770No harm
  14. Autumn Care of Myrtle GroveWilmington, NC · Report card2 F770No harm
  15. Avir at El PasoEl Paso, TX · Report card2 F770No harm

What to ask a facility about a F770 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 9, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F770 in a nursing home inspection?
F770 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Provide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents." (Administration). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F770?
F770 was cited 929 times at 841 facilities (6% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #84 of 242 tags. 31 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F770 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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