14,680
Active nursing homes
September 1 CMS processing snapshot
Free download · September 2026 CMS files
National Survey Preparedness Guide
A visual look at published Standard and Complaint activity, persistent citation topics, G+ severity patterns, and state variation across the April, August, and September releases.
Based on public CMS files processed September 1 and released October 8, 2026. The guide describes published activity; it does not predict survey timing.
The national picture
The guide keeps facilities, inspection events, and citation rows separate so each number is read against the right denominator. Recent Standard events rose 8.63% between the August and September release snapshots; the leading citation topics stayed in the same order.
11,609
Standard inspection events
15-month window; August: 11,566
80,426
Standard citation rows
15-month window; August: 80,622
1,384
Recent Standard events
90-day window; up 8.63% from August
National citation patterns
Four topics to bring into readiness review
Infection prevention and control
F08805,657 facilities
51.01% of the 11,091 facilities with a Standard inspection; August: 5,658.
Food procurement, storage, preparation, and service
F08124,798 facilities
43.26% of Standard-inspected facilities; August: 4,757.
Medication labeling and storage
F07613,358 facilities
30.28% of Standard-inspected facilities; unchanged from August by facility count.
Accident hazards and supervision at G+ severity
F0689477 facilities
Standard-flagged severity G–L; August: 498. Some records describe past noncompliance.
What the guide includes
- April, August, and September release comparisons
- Top Standard and G+ citation patterns
- State rates with minimum coverage rules
- Clear facility, event, and citation-row denominators
- Practical internal review prompts
- Survey Alert app views and free account access
Source and comparison rules
The analysis uses CMS Provider Information, Inspection Dates, and Health Deficiencies files processed September 1, 2026. The rolling 15-month window is June 1, 2025–September 1, 2026; the recent window is June 3–September 1, 2026. Public state comparisons require at least 25 active facilities and 40% Standard-inspection coverage; citation intensity also requires at least 50 Standard events. The national analysis covers 50 states and DC, excluding Puerto Rico and Guam.