CMS F-tag

F842: Assessment & care planning

Medical records must be complete, accurate, and accessible. Cited 8,039 times at 5,061 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#15 of 242 tags0% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 8, 2026

How F842 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF842#15 of 242 tagsVery often cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ0.1%11
  • Actual harmG–I0%0
  • No actual harmD · E · F96.1%7,727
  • Minimal harmB · C3.7%301

0% of F842 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 8,039Citations
  • 5,061Facilities cited35% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20176
  • 2018143
  • 2019364
  • 2020102
  • 2021324
  • 2022664
  • 20231,832
  • 20242,295
  • 20252,304
  • 20265

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

Where F842 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 F842 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California59% of homes1,403 citations · 686 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas47% of homes881 citations · 553 of 1,167 facilities
  • Ohio44% of homes571 citations · 402 of 911 facilities
  • Maryland94% of homes460 citations · 205 of 219 facilities
  • Massachusetts74% of homes456 citations · 250 of 338 facilities
  • Pennsylvania37% of homes378 citations · 240 of 653 facilities
  • Florida39% of homes370 citations · 267 of 689 facilities
  • Virginia66% of homes342 citations · 187 of 285 facilities
  • Indiana33% of homes239 citations · 164 of 504 facilities
  • West Virginia91% of homes232 citations · 111 of 122 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card14 F842No harm
  2. Four Seasons Healthcare & Wellness Center, LPNorth Hollywood, CA · Report card11 F842No harm
  3. Maclay Healthcare CenterSylmar, CA · Report card11 F842No harm
  4. Ararat Nursing FacilityMission Hills, CA · Report card10 F842No harm
  5. Park Avenue Healthcare & Wellness CenterPomona, CA · Report card10 F842No harm
  6. Plaza Healthcare CenterSanta Ana, CA · Report card9 F842No harm
  7. Alexandria Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card8 F842No harm
  8. Mountain View Conv HospSylmar, CA · Report card8 F842No harm
  9. Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing CenterMontebello, CA · Report card8 F842No harm
  10. Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card8 F842No harm
  11. Burbank Healthcare & RehabBurbank, CA · Report card7 F842No harm
  12. Charleston Healthcare CenterCharleston, WV · Report card7 F842No harm
  13. Casa de Oro CenterLas Cruces, NM · Report card7 F842No harm
  14. Coral Rehabilitation and Nursing of AustinAustin, TX · Report card7 F842No harm
  15. New Orange HillsOrange, CA · Report card7 F842No harm

What to ask a facility about a F842 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 F842 in a nursing home inspection?
F842 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards." (Assessment & care planning). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F842?
F842 was cited 8,039 times at 5,061 facilities (35% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #15 of 242 tags. 11 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F842 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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