CMS F-tag

F837: Administration

Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility. Cited 275 times at 247 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#127 of 242 tags13% caused harm39 statesLatest survey Dec 23, 2025

How F837 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF837#127 of 242 tagsRarely cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L11.3%31
  • Actual harmG · H · I2.2%6
  • No actual harmD · E · F81.8%225
  • Minimal harmB · C4.7%13

13% of F837 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 275Citations
  • 247Facilities cited2% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20183
  • 20205
  • 20217
  • 202211
  • 202380
  • 2024111
  • 202558

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

Where F837 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 F837 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California4% of homes57 citations · 51 of 1,154 facilities
  • Ohio3% of homes36 citations · 28 of 911 facilities
  • Texas2% of homes23 citations · 21 of 1,167 facilities
  • New York3% of homes17 citations · 15 of 593 facilities
  • Kentucky4% of homes13 citations · 11 of 266 facilities
  • Washington6% of homes12 citations · 11 of 192 facilities
  • Wisconsin3% of homes11 citations · 10 of 321 facilities
  • Illinois1% of homes10 citations · 9 of 665 facilities
  • Massachusetts3% of homes9 citations · 9 of 338 facilities
  • Tennessee3% of homes9 citations · 9 of 298 facilities

Top 10 of 39 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Astoria Place of BarnesvilleBarnesville, OH · Report card4 F837No harm
  2. Orchards at TulareTulare, CA · Report card4 F837No harm
  3. Astoria Place of CambridgeCambridge, OH · Report card3 F837No harm
  4. Guam Memorial Hospital AuthorityBarrigada, GU · Report card3 F837No harm
  5. Lyndon CrossingLouisville, KY · Report card3 F837No harm
  6. Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing CenteRochester, NY · Report card2 F8371 with harm
  7. Alderwood Post Acute & RehabilitationLynnwood, WA · Report card2 F837No harm
  8. Antelope Valley Care CenterLancaster, CA · Report card2 F837No harm
  9. Arbor Post AcuteChico, CA · Report card2 F837No harm
  10. Astoria Place of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Report card2 F837No harm
  11. Avantara NortonSioux Falls, SD · Report card2 F837No harm
  12. Capitol City Rehab and Healthcare CenterWashington, DC · Report card2 F837No harm
  13. Countryside Care CenterMacomb, IL · Report card2 F837No harm
  14. Early Memorial Nursing FacilityBlakely, GA · Report card2 F837No harm
  15. Kennedy Health & RehabLufkin, TX · Report card2 F837No harm

What to ask a facility about a F837 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 23, 2025. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F837 in a nursing home inspection?
F837 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Establish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility." (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 F837?
F837 was cited 275 times at 247 facilities (2% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #127 of 242 tags. 37 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F837 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.

Estimate costs, decode inspections, and benchmark a facility with the rest of the toolkit.

All free tools
Nursing Home Report CardNursing Home Star Rating Lookup & Safety Report CardLook up any Medicare-certified nursing home and get a plain-English safety report card: star ratings, inspection citations, fines, staffing, and turnover compared with state peers.Overall, inspection, staffing, and quality stars vs. the state averageEvery health citation grouped by category with severity explainedFines, payment denials, abuse flags, and special-focus statusTry it free Medicare 100-Day CalculatorMedicare Skilled Nursing Coverage CalculatorSee how many days Medicare pays for rehab or skilled nursing, what the daily copay is after day 20, and when the 100-day benefit runs out.Day-by-day breakdown of what Medicare coversThe 2026 daily coinsurance for days 21–100The date your benefit days run outTry it free Care Needs AssessmentCare Needs Assessment: Home Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Nursing HomeAnswer ten questions about daily needs, health, memory, and budget to see which level of care fits your parent, then browse matching providers near you.A recommended care level with the reasons behind itWhat each option typically costs and who paysMatching providers near your ZIP codeTry it free

Compare the facilities on your shortlist

Put up to three nursing homes side by side with star ratings, staffing, inspection results, and penalties from the latest CMS data. Free, no account needed.

Compare facilitiesBrowse by state

Own or manage a facility?

Claim your free listing to correct details, reply to reviews, and show your verified badge.

Claim your facility

Read our latest articles