The CMS Special Focus Facility Nursing Home List

If you’re researching nursing homes, you may have come across a few designated as “Special Focus Facilities” (SFF).  This is a label used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to classify homes that require additional oversight and penalties for sub-standard care. 

Read more about Special Focus Facilities in our nursing home law library article

“Should I avoid nursing homes designated as “Special Focus Facilities”?”

Nursing homes in the CMS SFF program are listed in five different categories:

1. New Additions: nursing homes that were just added to the SFF list
2. Not Improved: Nursing homes that have been given time to improve but have not shown significant improvement.
3. Improving: These nursing homes have shown significant improvement.  This list of homes is being monitored to make sure that they keep improving.  If homes stay on this list for 12 months, they can graduate from the SFF program.
4. Recently Graduated: Nursing homes that maintained significant improvement over a 12 month period (2 surveys) and are no longer considered a SFF.
5. No Longer in Medicare and Medicaid: Homes on this list were either recently terminated from participation with Medicare and Medicaid or chose to no longer participate in the programs.

Please visit our nursing home law library to read articles about nursing home abuse and neglect, and read our nursing home blog for additional information.