CMS F-tag

F851: Administration

Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data. Cited 799 times at 734 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#90 of 242 tags0% caused harm49 statesLatest survey Jan 9, 2026

How F851 shows up in inspections

#90 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

Rarely cited
Occasionally cited
Often cited
Very often cited
Among the most cited

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
Actual harmG–I0%0
No actual harmD · E · F81%647
Minimal harmB · C19%152

0% of F851 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

799Citations
734Facilities cited5% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20191
202216
2023203
2024359
2025219
20261

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

Where F851 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 F851 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

Kansas31% of homes102 citations · 92 of 294 facilities
Texas5% of homes60 citations · 55 of 1,167 facilities
Minnesota15% of homes58 citations · 50 of 337 facilities
Wisconsin14% of homes48 citations · 45 of 321 facilities
California3% of homes45 citations · 38 of 1,154 facilities
Louisiana14% of homes44 citations · 37 of 264 facilities
Iowa10% of homes41 citations · 39 of 388 facilities
Ohio4% of homes39 citations · 37 of 911 facilities
Mississippi16% of homes37 citations · 32 of 200 facilities
Oklahoma10% of homes33 citations · 28 of 282 facilities

Top 10 of 49 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

Bayou Vista Nursing and Rehab CenterBunkie, LA · Report card3 F851No harm
Centerville Care and Rehab Center INCCenterville, SD · Report card3 F851No harm
Harmony Care at BeaumontBeaumont, TX · Report card3 F851No harm
Astoria Place of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Report card2 F851No harm
Bonner Springs Nursing & Rehab CenterBonner Springs, KS · Report card2 F851No harm
Boyce Manor Nursing HomeHoldenville, OK · Report card2 F851No harm
Brentwood Extended Care & RehabMuskogee, OK · Report card2 F851No harm
Callaway Nursing HomeSulphur, OK · Report card2 F851No harm
Cedarwood GardensFranklin, MA · Report card2 F851No harm
Coalinga Regional Medical Ctr Dp/SnfCoalinga, CA · Report card2 F851No harm
Colville Tribal Convalescent CNespelem, WA · Report card2 F851No harm
Chateau Napoleon Caring, LLCNapoleonville, LA · Report card2 F851No harm
Colonial Oaks Skilled Nursing and RehabilitationBossier City, LA · Report card2 F851No harm
Complete Care at KensingtonWaukesha, WI · Report card2 F851No harm
Crook County Medical Services District Long Term CSundance, WY · Report card2 F851No harm

What to ask a facility about a F851 citation

What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
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.

What is F851 in a nursing home inspection?

F851 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data." (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 F851?

F851 was cited 799 times at 734 facilities (5% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #90 of 242 tags. 0 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F851 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.

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 facilities Browse by state