NPPES file of Aug 9, 2026

Nursing Home Deficiencies in Alaska

Alaska's nursing homes average 8.9 health-inspection deficiencies on their latest standard survey, at or below the national 9.2, across 20 surveyed homes. The 20 with the most citations are listed below.

CMS Care Compare nursing home file processed Jul 1, 2026, rating cycle 1 surveys · method · Care Compare on CMS.gov →

Small sample. This average rests on 20 surveyed homes, so one home moves it. The deficiency rankings by state mark Alaska the same way.

Alaska against the nation

  • Nursing homes20
  • Surveyed20
  • Average deficiencies, Alaska8.9 per home
  • Average deficiencies, U.S.9.2 per home
  • Fines on record, Alaska$640,818

Source: CMS nursing home file processed Jul 1, 2026; deficiencies from the most recent standard survey (rating cycle 1).

Most deficiencies in Alaska

#Nursing homeCityDeficienciesComplaintsFinesInspection
1Polaris Extended CareAnchorage4012$231,8651 of 5
2Centennial Post AcuteAnchorage2714$232,5021 of 5
3Ketchikan Med Ctr New Horizons Transitional CareKetchikan13101 of 5
4Polaris Transitional CareAnchorage123$109,3822 of 5
5Maple Springs OF PalmerPalmer122$46,5941 of 5
6Providence Kodiak Island Med LtcKodiak1102 of 5
7Denali CenterFairbanks100$10,3582 of 5
8Heritage PlaceSoldotna803 of 5
9Providence Seward Mountain HavenSeward713 of 5
10Cordova Community Med LtcCordova703 of 5
11Wildflower CourtJuneau603 of 5
12Providence Valdez Medical CenterValdez503 of 5
13Yukon Kuskokwim Elder's HomeBethel50$10,1173 of 5
14Quyanna Care CenterNome304 of 5
15Maple Springs OF WasillaWasilla304 of 5
16Wrangell Medical Center LtcWrangell204 of 5
17Petersburg Medical Center LtcPetersburg205 of 5
18South Peninsula Hospital LtcHomer205 of 5
19Utuqqanaat InaatKotzebue214 of 5
20Searhc Sitka Long Term CareSitka104 of 5

Source: CMS nursing home file processed Jul 1, 2026. A count is not a severity: read each home's survey report.

How to read deficiencies

Across the 20 surveyed nursing homes in Alaska, the average facility carries 8.9 total health-inspection deficiencies on its most recent CMS standard survey, compared with a national average of 9.2. A "deficiency" is a specific F-tag citation written by state surveyors during the annual federal inspection under 42 CFR §483, each citation maps to a scope-and-severity grid (A through L) that determines whether it is an isolated low-harm issue or a widespread immediate-jeopardy finding. The Alaska state-level average reflects the sum of all F-tag citations divided by the number of facilities; it does not distinguish between low-severity paperwork findings and high-severity resident-harm citations, which is why drilling into any facility's full survey report matters more than the headline count. This page uses 14,693 Medicare-certified nursing-home records from CMS Care Compare, with NPPES context where available. Every figure is traceable in the methodology.

The table below ranks up to the top 100 Alaska facilities by total deficiency count (highest first) - the goal is transparency, not a blacklist. Facilities appear with their deficiency total, complaint-based deficiencies (citations triggered by a formal complaint rather than the routine survey), fine dollar amounts, and CMS Health Inspection component rating. A high count can reflect a facility with genuine quality problems, a more aggressive state survey team, a larger bed count with more opportunities for citation, or a complaint spike in a single cycle, context matters. Conversely, a low count does not guarantee good care; facilities rarely surveyed, or recently surveyed with a favorable cycle, can look clean while problems accumulate between inspections. The state's benchmark of 8.9 deficiencies and the national benchmark of 9.2 (average score 82) are starting reference points.

Deficiencies are based on CMS Rating Cycle 1 (the most recent completed standard survey); prior cycles appear on each facility's detail page. Important: PlainDoctor presents CMS deficiency data exactly as published at data.cms.gov - we do not aggregate, re-rank, or editorialize. This table is a research tool, not medical advice, a consumer rating, or a legal conclusion about any facility. Selecting a nursing home for yourself or a loved one should include in-person visits, reading the underlying F-tag narratives in the full CMS-2567 survey reports, interviewing staff and current residents' families, and consulting licensed clinicians, hospital discharge planners, and elder-law advisors familiar with Alaska long-term care regulations.

Deficiencies in other large states

  1. Texas1,177
  2. California1,165
  3. Ohio922
  4. Florida694
  5. Illinois667

Common questions

What is the average deficiency count in Alaska nursing homes?

Across the 20 surveyed facilities in Alaska, the average is 8.9 health inspection deficiencies per facility, compared to a national average of 9.2. The national average deficiency score is 82.

What types of deficiencies do nursing homes receive?

Deficiencies are F-tag citations issued during CMS standard surveys or complaint investigations. They range from minor paperwork issues (scope A-B) to widespread immediate-jeopardy findings (scope J-L). The severity matters more than the raw count.

How does Alaska compare nationally for nursing home deficiencies?

The Alaska average of 8.9 deficiencies per facility is at or below the national average of 9.2. State survey teams vary in strictness, so cross-state comparisons should be made with caution.

What should I do if a Alaska nursing home has many deficiencies?

Review the severity of individual citations, not just the count. Read the F-tag narratives in the CMS-2567 survey reports, tour the facility in person, interview staff and residents' families, and consult licensed clinicians or elder-law advisors familiar with the state's long-term care regulations.

Source: CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System, Nursing Home Provider Information, processed Jul 1, 2026 (data.cms.gov).