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F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities

F609 is one of the federal requirements every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home must meet. CMS describes it as: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. It sits in CMS's freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation category.

8,832citations in the CMS files
5,819homes cited at least once
2,274in the 12 months to September 2026
2.7%rated actual harm or immediate jeopardy

CMS Health Deficiencies file, data as of September 1, 2026. The files hold each home's last three standard inspections and three years of complaint visits.

How seriously inspectors rate it

Every citation gets a letter for how much harm inspectors found and how many residents it touched (how to read the letters). 73.1% of F609 citations came from a complaint visit rather than a routine inspection.

  • Immediate jeopardy (J, K, L)194 (2.2%)
  • Actual harm (G, H, I)41 (0.5%)
  • Potential for more than minimal harm (D, E, F)8,587 (97.2%)
  • Potential for minimal harm (A, B, C)10 (0.1%)

By letter: B 7, C 3, D 7,682, E 861, F 44, G 38, H 3, J 133, K 49, L 12.

What inspectors wrote

Three recent F609 citations from different states, quoted from the inspectors' statements of deficiencies (CMS form 2567). Names are removed by CMS.

Inspectors wrote, August 7, 2026, scope and severity DBased on review of facility policy, resident records, resident council minutes, facility investigation documents, incidents submitted to the local State field office, resident interview, and staff interviews it was determined that the facility failed to submit a report of an allegation of verbal abuse for one of four sampled resident records (Resident R9).

Providence Health & Rehab Center, Beaver Falls, PA

Inspectors wrote, July 31, 2026, scope and severity DBased on interview and record review; the facility failed to ensure all alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment were reported immediately but not later than 24 hours if the events that cause the allegation do not involve abuse and do not result in serious bodily injury, to the administrator of the facility and to other officials (Including the State Agency) for incidents involving the environment for 44 of 44 residents. The facility failed to report smoke coming from the light fixture on 07/28/2026 in the dining room and assess Resident #1 after the smoke in the dining room on 07/28/2026. This failure could place residents at risk for injury or even death.

Avir at Caldwell, Caldwell, TX

Inspectors wrote, July 31, 2026, scope and severity DBased on interview and record review the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse for one resident (Resident 1) when Resident 1's Emergency Contact (EC, a trusted person designated to by notified by the facility of a resident's health status) notified the Social Service Director (SSD) of an allegation of misappropriation of Resident 1's property. This failure decreased the facility's potential to ensure the facility provided monitoring of Resident 1's psychosocial health and oversight of Resident 1's protection from further misappropriation of funds.

Novato Healthcare Center, Novato, CA

Most recent F609 citations at the harm or jeopardy level

Newest first, the latest 40 in the current files. Each home's page shows the citation in full context, with its correction status.

InspectionHomeTownLetterVisit
July 13, 2026Delhi Rehabilitation and Nursing CenterDelhi, NY JComplaint
July 6, 2026Central Nursing HomeChicago, IL GComplaint
July 2, 2026Affinity Skilled Living and Rehabilitation CenterOakdale, NY JComplaint
June 10, 2026Chickasha Nursing Center, IncChickasha, OK JComplaint
April 16, 2026Evercare of LebanonLebanon, IL JComplaint
March 30, 2026Galena Nursing & Rehab CenterGalena, KS GComplaint
March 27, 2026Meridian Care of AliceAlice, TX JStandard
March 25, 2026Providence HealthcareThomaston, GA GComplaint
March 16, 2026Provo Rehabilitation and NursingProvo, UT GComplaint
March 5, 2026St. Jude's Health & Wellness CenterNew Orleans, LA JComplaint
March 2, 2026Edgewood Health & RehabilitationByram, MS JComplaint
February 20, 2026Finger Lakes Center for LivingAuburn, NY JComplaint
February 13, 2026Avir at CommonsAthens, TX GComplaint
February 5, 2026Allure of GalesburgGalesburg, IL JComplaint
January 28, 2026Munster Med-InnMunster, IN JComplaint
January 19, 2026Christian Health Center CorbinCorbin, KY JComplaint
January 14, 2026Ralls Nursing HomeRalls, TX JComplaint
January 14, 2026Bedford Care Center of PicayunePicayune, MS JComplaint
January 9, 2026Avir at SchertzSchertz, TX JComplaint
January 7, 2026Medilodge of MunisingMunising, MI GStandard
December 12, 2025Cardinal Care StrategiesMuncie, IN JComplaint
December 9, 2025Grand Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation CenterBronx, NY GComplaint
November 26, 2025The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and NursingSouth Hampton, NY JComplaint
November 19, 2025Avir at Fort WorthFort Worth, TX JComplaint
November 19, 2025Trego Co-Lemke Memorial Hospital LtcuWakeeney, KS JComplaint
November 18, 2025White Sands HealthcareHobbs, NM LComplaint
November 17, 2025Life Care Center of AndoverAndover, KS JComplaint
November 12, 2025Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, IncBoonville, NY KComplaint
November 10, 2025Quality Life Services - ChicoraChicora, PA JComplaint
November 10, 2025Fiddlers Green Manor Rehab and Nursing CenterSpringville, NY GComplaint
November 6, 2025Amethyst Health of WausauWausau, WI KComplaint
November 5, 2025Avir at MagnoliaLuling, TX JComplaint
October 23, 2025Shady Acres Health & RehabilitationNewton, TX KComplaint
October 17, 2025Bay Harbor Post Acute Healthcare CenterSalisbury, MD KComplaint
October 9, 2025Hammond-Henry District HspGeneseo, IL JComplaint
October 8, 2025Seneca District Hospital D/P SNFChester, CA GComplaint
October 3, 2025Epic Nursing & RehabilitationCorsicana, TX KComplaint
September 29, 2025Harmony Care at BeaumontBeaumont, TX JComplaint
September 19, 2025Peach Tree PlaceWeatherford, TX JComplaint
September 16, 2025Kennedy Health & RehabLufkin, TX JComplaint

Most recent F609 citations

InspectionHomeTownLetter
August 7, 2026Providence Health & Rehab CenterBeaver Falls, PA D
August 5, 2026Spindletop Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterBeaumont, TX D
July 31, 2026Avir at CaldwellCaldwell, TX D
July 31, 2026Southeast Nursing & Rehabilitation CenterSan Antonio, TX D
July 31, 2026Novato Healthcare CenterNovato, CA D
July 31, 2026East End Health & Rehab CenterPittsburgh, PA D
July 31, 2026Mangum Skilled Nursing and TherapyMangum, OK D
July 31, 2026Willow Haven Health and Rehab, LLCLas Vegas, NV D
July 31, 2026Good Samaritan Society - JacksonJackson, MN D
July 31, 2026Heritage ManorChisholm, MN D
July 31, 2026Autumn Lake Healthcare at Glen BurnieGlen Burnie, MD D
July 31, 2026Montgomery PlaceChicago, IL D
July 31, 2026Vernon Healthcare CenterLos Angeles, CA D
July 30, 2026Rochester Residence and Care CenterRochester, PA D
July 30, 2026Saint Anne HomeGreensburg, PA D
July 30, 2026Avenue at BrooklynBrooklyn, OH D
July 30, 2026Mt Alverna Home IncParma, OH D
July 30, 2026Bear Canyon Rehabilitation CenterAlbuquerque, NM D
July 30, 2026Laurel Health & Rehabilitation CenterLaurel, MT E
July 30, 2026Kittson HealthcareHallock, MN D
July 30, 2026Mission Point Nursing & Physical Rehabilitation CeCedar Springs, MI D
July 30, 2026Ocean Grove Post AcuteMillsboro, DE E
July 30, 2026Long Beach Healthcare CenterLong Beach, CA D
July 30, 2026Hampton Place Healthcare, LLCRogers, AR D
July 29, 2026Lindsay Gardens Nursing & RehabilitationLindsay, CA D

F609 citations by state

Counts depend on how many homes a state has and how often its inspectors visit, so a larger number is not by itself a worse record.

StateCitations
California1,089
Texas752
Illinois645
Ohio540
New York431
Wisconsin404
Michigan335
Maryland296
Missouri272
Minnesota242
Connecticut228
Washington216
Pennsylvania215
Indiana202
Louisiana201
Iowa175
New Jersey170
Florida159
Virginia153
Georgia145
Oklahoma136
Arizona129
Tennessee129
Massachusetts121
Nebraska117
West Virginia116
Kansas99
Utah89
Oregon77
New Mexico74
Montana72
Colorado71
North Carolina65
Kentucky64
South Carolina58
Alabama56
Delaware56
South Dakota51
Arkansas49
Nevada41
Mississippi39
Hawaii32
North Dakota32
District of Columbia30
Vermont30
Idaho25
Maine25
New Hampshire24
Wyoming22
Rhode Island19
Alaska11
Puerto Rico3

By inspection year: 2018 32, 2019 131, 2020 54, 2021 124, 2022 305, 2023 1,225, 2024 2,768, 2025 2,649, 2026 1,544.

Common questions

What is F609 in a nursing home inspection?
F609 is the federal requirement to "timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities". CMS files it under freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. A home cited under F609 did not meet that requirement at the inspection.
How often is F609 cited?
The CMS files as of September 1, 2026 list 8,832 F609 citations at 5,819 nursing homes, 2,274 of them in the 12 months to that date. 2.7% were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Is a F609 citation serious?
It depends on the letter. Most F609 citations (97.2%) were rated as potential for more than minimal harm, D to F. 194 were immediate jeopardy, the most serious level.

The interpretive guidance inspectors use for each F-tag is CMS's State Operations Manual, Appendix PP. NursingHomeClear reports the citations as CMS records them and is not affiliated with CMS. All F-tags · Methodology

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