Federal law requires a standard survey of every certified nursing home no later than 15 months after the previous one, with a statewide average of 12 months. CMS data shows many states are behind. As of October 2026:
- 4,446 nursing homes (30%) were more than 15 months past their last standard survey on record.
- 3,925 (27%) were 9 to 15 months out, inside the usual window.
- 3,242 (22%) will enter that window within about 90 days.
Put together, roughly three in four nursing homes are due, overdue or about to be due.
States With the Most Overdue Facilities
| State | Nursing homes | % more than 15 months since last standard survey |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 224 | 91.5% |
| Virginia | 289 | 75.8% |
| New York | 593 | 62.4% |
| Connecticut | 191 | 59.2% |
| Oklahoma | 283 | 56.9% |
| Colorado | 210 | 51.9% |
| Utah | 97 | 49.5% |
| Hawaii | 43 | 48.8% |
| Missouri | 487 | 48.3% |
| Illinois | 666 | 47.0% |
The Catch-Up Effect
States working through a backlog tend to survey in bursts. Several of the states with the most overdue facilities also have among the lowest electrical citation rates in our state report, partly because fewer recent surveys have happened there. When the surveyors catch up, facilities that haven't been inspected in two years or more can expect a thorough Life Safety Code review.
What to Do If Your Facility Is Overdue
- Assume the survey is next week. An overdue facility has no predictable window.
- Check that PCREE testing is current and documented device by device. If the last round was before your last survey, it's likely out of date.
- Walk the building for power strips and extension cords (K920, the most-cited electrical tag).
- Pull your last plan of correction and confirm every recurring action is still happening.
Check your building: look up your facility to see its electrical citations and estimated next survey window.
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Source: PCREETest.com analysis of CMS Provider Information (processed September 2026), using each facility's most recent standard health survey date as the last standard survey. Life Safety Code surveys are usually conducted with the standard survey. Status as of October 11, 2026.
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About the Author
PCREE Test Editorial Team
Content reviewed by biomedical professionals with experience in patient care electrical equipment testing, NFPA 99 compliance, and CMS Life Safety survey preparation for skilled nursing facilities.