Nursing Home Inspect

Nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding are subject to inspections to determine whether they are meeting resident care requirements. A nursing home’s failure to meet any care requirement is called a deficiency. An inspection report contains one or more deficiencies.

Each deficiency is given a letter rating of A through L based on its severity and scope. Severity is the level of harm caused by the deficiency, and scope is how widespread that harm was. Deficiencies L, K and J are the most serious and indicate immediate jeopardy to resident health and safety, meaning residents affected are at risk of serious injury, harm, impairment or death.